Allegations of delays, scarcity and unofficial payments have marred the acquisition of vehicle number plates in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Some applicants who spoke to DAILY POST alleged that motorists who are willing to pay extra are sometimes given preferential treatment, while those relying on the official process are left waiting for more than three months.
One applicant, Chinedu Okafor, alleged that he paid between N50,000 and N55,000 for a number plate after being assured that it would be ready within two weeks, but was later asked for an additional N50,000 for what he was told was a “VIP” arrangement.
Another applicant, Blessing Eze, claimed that some motorists who had completed payment were still waiting for their number plates, with additional charges allegedly demanded afterwards.
A licensing officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that number plates that previously took a day or two to obtain were now taking more than three months.
The officer claimed that some applicants were being offered plates at significantly higher prices, describing the arrangement as a “premium” service.
“We normally paid about N70,000, together with insurance, for a private car, and after weeks of waiting, they would reach out to us to say that it had increased to over N100,000,” the officer alleged.
A staff member of the Osun State licensing office also complained that Abuja number plates, which previously took about three to four days to process, could now take up to two months.
The official said the delay was affecting customers who were subsequently stopped by law enforcement officers for driving without valid identification documents.
An Abuja-based car dealer, Olayinka, said he paid N350,000 for dealer plates for one of his companies but had yet to receive them after two months.
He alleged that plates that ordinarily cost between N80,000 and N90,000 were being offered for about N180,000 through what he described as the black market.
The allegations could not be independently verified.
However, in an attempt to test the complaints, our reporter made payment for an FCT number plate through one of the staff members involved in the process.
More than a month later, the number plate and accompanying documents were still unavailable.
The controversy has heightened concerns among vehicle owners, who say they risk harassment or enforcement action while waiting for plates they have already paid for.
Motorists and dealers are therefore calling on the Federal Government and the FCT authorities to investigate the alleged racketeering, address the supply shortage and publish clear information on the official cost, processing time and approved payment channels for vehicle number plates.
They are also demanding clarification on whether any legitimate VIP or premium number plate service exists and, if so, the legal basis and approved charges for such a service.
Reacting to the public complaints, the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), popularly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), admitted that complaints over the scarcity and prolonged delays in obtaining vehicle number plates in Abuja were “not very far from the truth”, attributing the situation to limited supply, network challenges and the digital allocation system.
Speaking through its spokesperson, Kalu Emetu, in a phone interview with DAILY POST, the office explained that about 80 per cent of the agency’s operations were now conducted online, with the self-service portal being one of several platforms through which applicants could obtain services, including vehicle number plates.
Kalu noted that the digital system had, however, created new challenges, particularly because applicants outside Nigeria with faster internet connections could access available number plates more quickly than those within the country.
“What they are saying is not very far from the truth, but the point is there are reasons for that,” Kalu said.
While stating the agency’s challenges, he said VIO itself was not receiving the quantity of number plates it requested from the printing facility, insisting that the shortage had created suspicion between applicants and licensing officers, with customers sometimes accusing officials of withholding plates or misappropriating their money when the plates were unavailable.
“Once we upload the little numbers that they supply to us, the public will feel nothing was uploaded because it can’t serve half of the applicants.
“That’s why we’ve been having all the pressure,” he said.
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