VREG’ll Enhance National Security — Minister

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, has explained benefits of the new National Vehicle Registry (VREG) policy of the Federal Goverment, saying it would curb vehicle theft and enhance national security.

Ahmed, who disclosed this at the weekend in Calabar during the South South zone sensitisation seminar on VREG policy, also said revenue would be generated for the government through the policy.

She said records showed that Nigeria is the hub of stolen vehicles but that the policy would address issues bordering on importation of vehicles, kidnapping and other crimes.

“In line with the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative, the ministry conceived and launched the National Vehicle Registry (VREG) Automated Gateway Portal as a means to leveraging technology infrastructure to maximise revenue generation for Nigeria as well as to enhance national security such as curtailing kidnapping, utilisation of vehicles in crime perpetration and terrorism.

“The National Bureau of Statistics confirmed that between 2015 to 2020, Nigeria imported an average of 400,000 vehicles with an average of 28 percent increase annually. While an additional 40 percent are vehicles smuggled into the country annually, thus evading duty payment. 22 to 30 percent of these vehicles are stolen,” she said. 

The minister, who was represented by the Head, Public/Private Partnership division of the ministry, Jumai Katagum, added that, “It was further revealed that Nigeria was the hub of stolen vehicles as Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of vehicles in the country were usually unregistered, consequently, vehicles from the shores of Nigeria cannot be traced.” 

She said VREG is a “national repository of vehicular information that seeks to provide a singular platform through which all relevant agencies shall reference vehicular data with a view of ascertaining ownership and value information, capturing vehicular exchanges and utilising the vehicle information number of all vehicles in Nigeria.

“VREG would ensure enforceability of penalties placed on vehicles by regulators across board as well as ensuring accurate monitoring, documentation and tracking of vehicular activities to enhance national security.”

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Aliyu Mohammed, said agencies involved in VREG enforcement include Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), among others.

The Cross River State Commissioner for Transport and Marine Service, Hon Oqua Edet Oqua, who represented Governor Ben Ayade, said the policy came at the right time, adding that apart from VREG policy generating revenue for the government, it is important to know the number of vehicles coming into the country. 

According to him, “the state has begun computerised registration of vehicles to reduce criminality and issuing security numbers to vehicles operating in Cross River.”