By John Ugo, Awka
The Anambra State Government has uncovered a fake vehicle number plate factory at Nnewi, the major automobile spare parts market in the state.
The shocking discovery of the illegal factory has exposed the shoddy deals undermining proper licensing by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the State Government.
Investigations revealed that the state government and officials of the FRSC have lost huge sums of revenue to cartels as the fake vehicle number plate production plant had been in existence for many years without discovery.
Hundreds of the fake plate numbers were found not captured in the database of relevant state and federal government agencies.
Chairman of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, (AIRS) Mr. Richard Madiebo, disclosed that the the sharp practice has been in existence over the years.
He said the State Government was working with security operatives and other relevant Federal Government agencies towards nipping the ugly develpment in the bud.
Madiebo said such areas would generate huge revenue for the state, adding that government is very interested in ensuring that everybody gets the right licensed plate number plate in his/her vehicle.
He noted that genuine licensed number plates guaranteed security because it would help to know number of cars and how many of them use Anambra roads.
Madiebo also advised vehicle owners to obtain vehicle number plates from accredited motor licensing offices instead of patronising racketeers, adding that genuine licensed number plates cost about N18, 750.
He lamented that people prefer to purchase counterfeit vehicle papers at the rate of N3, 000 or N4000, stressing that such number plates would not be captured in the official database of both the FRSC and the State Internal Revenue Service.
He further explained that government is currently making efforts to sanitise the licensing regime in Anambra state and that by the 31st day of December, 2022 government targets to hit at least 40 billion naira revenue base.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga said the command was not aware of the development but promised to make calls to ascertain the veracity of the story.
