FRSC Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Fake Number Plates, Deploys Special Patrol Teams in Operation Guduma II By Raymond Enoch

he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intensified its nationwide enforcement campaign against the use of fake, concealed, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates, launching the second phase of its special intervention patrol, Operation Guduma, with a warning that motorists exploiting registration irregularities to evade identification will face the full weight of the law.

The five-day operation, scheduled to run from November 2 to 6, 2026, marks a renewed push by the Corps to close loopholes in vehicle identification, strengthen road safety enforcement and address growing national security concerns surrounding the proliferation of fraudulent vehicle registration plates.

Approved by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, mni, Operation Guduma Phase Two will cover selected states across the federation, with specially designated senior officers deployed to coordinate, supervise and ensure effective implementation of the exercise.

The latest intervention builds on the first phase of Operation Guduma conducted in May 2026, which resulted in 1,691 arrests across 11 states, underscoring the scale of violations confronting traffic enforcement authorities.

Of the motorists apprehended during the exercise, 1,003 were arrested for various number plate-related offences, while 683 were booked for overloading and mixed-loading. Five others were arrested for the use of fake diplomatic number plates.

The figures have further reinforced the FRSC’s determination to confront the growing practice, particularly as concerns mount over the security implications of vehicles operating with unidentifiable, fraudulent or improperly displayed registration plates.

The renewed crackdown also follows concerns raised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing use of counterfeit vehicle registration plates, including fake diplomatic plates, covered numbers, defaced inscriptions and expired registrations.

For the FRSC, the implications extend beyond routine traffic violations. Vehicles operating without genuine and clearly identifiable registration plates can undermine security surveillance, frustrate criminal investigations and provide cover for individuals seeking to evade law enforcement agencies.

The Corps is therefore positioning Operation Guduma as both a road safety enforcement measure and a complementary national security intervention aimed at strengthening accountability on Nigeria’s road networks.

Beyond the identification and prosecution of number plate offenders, the operation will also focus on maintaining free-flowing traffic along designated corridors, providing emergency rescue services and ensuring the prompt removal of road obstructions.

Speaking on the exercise, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed reaffirmed the Corps’ resolve to end practices that compromise road safety and national security, stressing that the use of fake, concealed, defaced or obsolete vehicle registration plates would no longer be treated as an ordinary traffic infraction.

He urged motorists to ensure that their vehicle registration plates are genuine, valid, clearly visible and properly displayed, while calling on members of the public to cooperate with FRSC personnel throughout the five-day operation.

Mohammed also directed officers and personnel participating in the exercise to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and respect for citizens’ rights.

He particularly emphasised the need for tact and appropriate courtesy in engagements involving diplomatic number plates, insisting that enforcement actions must be undertaken in accordance with established diplomatic protocols.

With the second phase of Operation Guduma, the FRSC is seeking to send a stronger message that vehicle registration is not merely an administrative requirement but a critical component of public safety, law enforcement and national security.

The operation comes amid increasing demands for stronger coordination among security and traffic management agencies to ensure that Nigeria’s road transportation system does not become a safe passage for criminal elements seeking anonymity through fraudulent vehicle identification.

The Corps’ central message is clear: every vehicle on Nigerian roads must be identifiable, and no motorist should be allowed to hide behind fake or manipulated number plates to escape lawful accountability.