By Ayo Kehinde
Nigerian vehicles owners would have to cough out an annual N1,000 fee for Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) verification, according to a new Federal Government policy
Disclosing this on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, said during a joint news conference in Ikeja, that all States of the Federation are expected to begin the implementation of the new policy, and each vehicle owner is expected to pay a minimum of N1,000 to procure a certificate.
Toriola explained that the new initiative was aimed at tracking the real-time status and guaranteeing the integrity of all vehicles registered on the National Vehicle and Identification Scheme (NVIS) database.
His words: “In accordance with the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 as amended, No. 101, Vol. 99, Section 73- (1), which states that ‘There shall be Proof of Ownership Certificate for all registered Vehicles’.
“To this end, the Federal Government has introduced the issuance of an annual Proof of Ownership Certificate for all registered vehicles.
“This certificate will serve as official documentation of a vehicle’s legal owner upon successful completion of the necessary requirements and procedures.
“The POC will contain vital information including the vehicle’s registration details, such as license number plate, model, and year of manufacture in addition to the owner’s name and address.
“Having critically reviewed the challenges encountered in ensuring the promotion of safety and security of lives and property through the issuance of POC nationally and especially in our Dear State, the Joint Tax Board, in its communiqué issued at the end of the emergency meeting held on 9th May 2023, adopted and made a resolution that Proof of Ownership Certificate (PoC) be issued to motorists on an annual basis nationwide.”
