The Federal Government has implemented a new fee of N1,000, which will be collected annually from motorists as payment for the Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) verification, News About Nigeria reports.
Lagos State is leading the way by initiating the collection of this fee from July 2023.
During a joint press conference held in Ikeja, Lagos, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola announced that the state government has already started implementing this new initiative.
The main objective is to streamline and improve the process of verifying vehicle ownership through the annual Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC).
This move is aligned with the legal requirement for transparency, security, and accountability within the transportation network.
Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola stated that the initiative is in compliance with the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012, as amended, No. 101, Vol. 99.
According to Section 73-(1) of the regulation, there should be a Proof of Ownership Certificate for all registered vehicles. Additionally, Section 73-(1-6) states that “The commission shall establish and maintain a Central Database for Vehicles and drivers for the federation.”
Consequently, the Federal Government has introduced the issuance of an annual Proof of Ownership Certificate for all registered vehicles.
This certificate will serve as the official documentation of a vehicle’s legal ownership after fulfilling the necessary requirements and procedures.
The POC will contain essential information, including the vehicle’s registration details, such as the license plate number, model, year of manufacture, owner’s name, and address.
The decision to introduce the annual POC nationwide was made by the Joint Tax Board in its communiqué issued during an emergency meeting on May 9, 2023.
This resolution aims to address the challenges encountered in promoting the safety and security of lives and property through the issuance of POC.
Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola emphasized that the annual POC will contribute to real-time tracking and ensure the integrity of all vehicles registered on the National Vehicle and Identification Scheme (NVIS) database.
To enhance security administration, the POC will be specifically printed and connected with other vehicle documents in Lagos State.
The POC will not only provide statistics on the nationwide vehicular population but also help minimize car theft and facilitate the recovery of stolen vehicles.
Additionally, it will streamline the fulfillment of a uniform licensing scheme mandate.
Moreover, regardless of the issuing state, motor vehicle documents from any state can be easily verified.
The POC will enhance the safety and security of vehicles and their owners while contributing to the National Vehicle database for national security, planning, and economic development.
Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola expressed confidence that the POC will enable real-time tracking and ensure the integrity of all vehicles registered on the NVIS database.
It is based on the safety and security guarantees provided by the POC that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has approved its implementation in Lagos State.
