*Public doubts sincerity of its enforcement
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has ordered a total ban on all use of police SPY vehicle number plates by vehicle owners across the country without exceptions.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Wednesday in Abuja, said the ban was irrespective of whether it was authorised, or not, as all authorizlsations have been revoked indefinitely.
But a cross-section of Nigerians say the IGP was merely repeating the political gimic of his predecessors, stressing that the Police have no strong will to enforce the directive.
They alluded to previous directives banning roadblocks by persons other than the Police, as touts, LGA officials and all kinds of people mount roadblocks nowadays.
They also reminded the IGP that he failed woefully to implement “Bail is Free” mantra, stressing that “IGP Baba is not the first IGP to issue such a statement and it will not be his last before he leaves office.
“I discover that each time an IGP wants his boys to make money, they make one or two pronouncements which they know is a mere gimmick, not meant to be but to put food on the table of his boys”.
But the FPRO said: “This order is necessary to forestall the continuous disregard for traffic rules and regulations and other extant laws guiding road use by individuals hiding under the privileges of SPY police number plates.
“The IGP has therefore directed that police officers and officers of other security agencies attached to VIPs who use the SPY number plates should ensure prompt compliance with this directive or risk being arrested for violation of the order”.
Meanwhile, the IGP has directed Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), to give full effect to the directives as contained above.
“The IGP specifically directed the AIGs and CPs to ensure that all SPY number plates currently in use are confiscated henceforth but the owners of such vehicles should not be arrested unless they are police officers or officers of other security agencies on escort duties,” the statement read in part.
Adejobi further stated that, “The IGP, however, warned that while carrying out these assignments, officers must ensure the rights and privileges of citizens are respected in line with the laws of the land and in accordance with international best practices.
“Other security agencies and members of the public are enjoined to cooperate with the Police in this regard as the moves are aimed at strengthening our internal security.”
