The Lagos State Government has announced its implementation of the annual Proof of Ownership certificate for vehicles as approved by the Joint Tax Board.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola, revealed this at a news briefing in Ikeja on Tuesday.
Toriola said that the PoC was one of the components that verified ownership of vehicles and ensured compliance with legal or regulatory requirements.
He said the initiative aims to streamline and enhance the process of vehicle ownership verification.
According to him, the implementation is in line with legal requirements fundamental to transparency, security and accountability within transportation network.
He said: “The initiative is 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.’
“Section 73- (1-6) also adds that: ‘The commission shall establish and maintain a Central Data Base for Vehicles and drivers for the federation.’
“To this end, the Federal Government has introduced the issuance of 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 Permanent Secretary said that the PoC would contain vital information, including the vehicle’s registration details such as licence number plate, model, year of manufacture, in addition to owner’s name and address.
Toriola said the PoC would be issued to motorists on an annual basis nationwide.
The Permanent Secretary said that for effective security administration, the annual certificate was specially printed and connected with other vehicle documents in the state.
“We believe that the PoC will help track the real time status and guarantee the integrity of all vehicles registered on the National Vehicle and Identification Scheme database,” Toriola said.
He said that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had approved its commencement in Lagos State, hence the news conference to enlighten the public.
Toriola urged the media to help in cascading the information down to the people in Lagos State for acceptance as it was with other states of the federation.
The Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Babatunde Farinloye, represented by Deputy Corps Commander in charge of Logistics, Tajudeen Mafe, said thae FRSC was empowered by law to implement government policies.
Farinloye said that it was incumbent on the FRSC to enforce, regulate and coordinate road safety transport management.
He said that the data base that would be generated by the certificate would enhance national security.
The representative of Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, Olabisi Olowolagba, said that the agency, which is in charged with generating data for the state, was happy with the introduction of the PoC.
Olowolagba said that the PoC was desirable to aid security and the MVAA would ensure its success.
The representative of Joint Tax Board, Segun Obayendo, emphasised on the benefit of the POC, saying it helped with the statistics of vehicular population nationwide, which could easily be obtained.
Obayendo said the PoC would provide solution to minimise car theft and recovery of stolen vehicles.
According to him, it would streamline the fulfilment of uniform licensing scheme mandate.
He said: “State motor vehicle document can easily be verified regardless of the issuing state, as well as safety and security of vehicles and other owners.
“The POC will enhance National Vehicle data for national security, for planing and economic development.”
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