Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the suspension of the enforcement process for the Electronic Central Motor Registry Registration Process (e-CMR), which was set to begin on July 29, 2024. The decision comes in response to growing public concerns and calls for clarification about the initiative.
Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi announced the suspension in a statement, emphasizing that the pause is intended to allow for “massive enlightenment to highlight the benefits and effectiveness of the e-CMR initiative.”
According to Adejobi, the e-CMR system is designed to enhance vehicle security by creating a comprehensive database of vehicle information.
“The e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform, but an initiative to digitalise policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigerian residents,” he explained.
The suspension follows an ultimatum from the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest (NBA-SPIDEL). NBA-SPIDEL Chairman John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun had called for an immediate reversal of the directive, questioning the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force to issue such certificates.
In their letter to the IGP, the NBA representatives stated, “No law has granted the police the authority to issue such licences or certificates to vehicle owners following vehicle registration at the appropriate offices.”
The e-CMR directive had initially required vehicle owners nationwide to register and obtain a Central Motor Information System Certificate at a cost of at least ₦6,000. This requirement sparked widespread debate about its necessity and legality.
While the enforcement is suspended, IGP Egbetokun has urged the public to still obtain the digitalised CMR certificate online at https://cmris.npf.gov.ng. However, he issued a stern warning to police officers, stating that “individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public under the guise of not having e-CMR certificates, will be sanctioned accordingly.”
