FRSC begins five-day crackdown on fake, covered vehicle number plates
- The FRSC has started phase two of its road exercise, targeting fake and covered number plates.
- The operation runs from Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6, 2026, in selected states.
- The first phase in May 2026 led to 1,691 arrests across 11 states.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced the second phase of its special patrol, code-named Operation Gaduma, with a five-day crackdown on fake, covered, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates.
The operation will run from Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6, 2026, in selected states, the corps said in a statement issued on Saturday, October 31, in Abuja by its Public Education Officer, Mr Osondu Ohaeri.
The FRSC said the exercise is meant to strengthen road safety and respond to security concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) about vehicle registration plates. The agency said plates that cannot be recognised make it hard for security agencies to identify vehicles, monitor their movement or investigate crimes.
Ohaeri said vehicles with unidentifiable or fraudulent plates create opportunities for criminal elements to evade identification and frustrate investigations. The corps said it would no longer treat fake, concealed, defaced or obsolete plates as a minor traffic offence.
The intervention was approved by the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, who directed that senior officers be deployed to coordinate and supervise the exercise.
What the first phase recorded
The first phase, held in May 2026, recorded 1,691 arrests across 11 states, according to the corps. Of that number, 1,003 motorists were arrested over number plate offences, 683 for overloading and mixed-loading, and five for using fake diplomatic number plates.
The FRSC said the figures show the scale of the problem and the need for sustained enforcement.
Beyond checking plates, officers on the operation will also manage traffic on designated corridors, respond to emergencies and clear road obstructions.
What happens next
Motorists in the selected states should expect checks on their plates during the five days. The FRSC advised drivers to make sure their plates are genuine, valid, clearly visible and properly displayed.
The Corps Marshal also directed personnel to act with professionalism and discipline and to respect citizens' rights. He said vehicles with diplomatic plates must be handled with courtesy and in line with diplomatic protocols.
The FRSC has run similar exercises before. In March 2025, Shehu Mohammed said the agency had arrested 7,798 people in two months over fake number plate offences. He then asked the National Assembly for stronger laws to help enforcement and prosecution.
