Blame FRSC, states, not motorists, for faded number plates – NAJA

The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), the umbrella body of journalists covering the automotive industry in the country, has condemned the arrest of motorists using faded vehicle number plates.

NAJA Chairman, Mr Mike Ochonma, who gave this position in a statement, said the producers of such substandard number plates such as the Federal Road Safety Corps and concerned state governments should be held liable and wondered why the unsuspecting vehicle owners are subjected to such a traumatic experience when they processed and procured their number plates from the relevant authorities.

Ochonma while recognising the efforts of the various authorities in curbing the increasing number of faded number plates in use across the country also challenged authorities producing the number plates to use quality paint and other printing materials that will have a longer lifespan.

This measure he noted would save vehicle owners from the harrowing experience they face regularly in the hands of the state VIS officials, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police and other statutory authorities.

The NAJA chairman also recommended that owners of faded vehicle number plates if arrested or stopped on the road for such reasons and it is proved that, the vehicle owner can either be given a period of grace within which to get a new one at a discounted price at the time when they are renewing their vehicle particulars.

Some of the motorists said on many occasions they were made to pay varying amounts of heavy fines of up to N20,000 and above with further directive to procure a new number plate for no fault of theirs in addition to the alleged contravention.

According to state VIS sources, motorists with faded vehicle plate numbers are violating traffic rules and must pay fines.

But NAJA said it was improper to impound people’s vehicles or impose fines for driving vehicles with faded number plates, adding that defaulting drivers should rather be made to make payments for automatic replacement.

The group said it was important for road enforcement agencies to find a solution to the low-quality vehicle number plates in circulation.

NAJA stated, “Having faded vehicle plate numbers cannot and should not be blamed on motorists. They were not the people that produced the plate numbers. Hence, it is bizarre that such motorists would be made to pay for offences that are allegedly committed due to no fault of theirs.

“We believe those charged with production of the said substandard number plates which fade easily, instead of heaping the blame entirely on motorists.

“As an association, we urge that to ensure that the number plates being produced by the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority (NPPA) and other production centres for instance are produced under the strict supervision of its quality control officers.”

According to the NAJA, statistics have shown that unlike the vehicle number plates produced by the FRSC in Abuja, most of the vehicle number plates produced by NPPA are those that easily get faded.

Vehicle number plates, NAJA said, should be able to last for about 12 years without getting faded.