The federal government will, as from July 1, tax private and commercial motorists N1, 000 fee for proof of ownership certificates.
Prior to the introduction of the fee, the document was issued for free by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to buyers of new vehicles.
Briefing journalists in Lagos yesterday, the permanent secretary in the ministry of transportation, Mr. AbdulHafiz Toriola said the implementation of the fee “aims to streamline and enhance the process of vehicle ownership verification” which, according to him is the “yearly proof of ownership certificate in line with compliance with legal requirements fundamental to transparency, security and accountability within the transportation network.”
He further stated the fee “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 POC for all registered vehicles’ while Section 73 (1-6) also provides that “the commission shall establish and maintain a central database for vehicles and drivers for the federation.”
He said the introduction of the issuance of a yearly POC for all registered vehicles “will serve as official documentation of a vehicle’s legal owners upon successful completion of the necessary requirements and procedures.
“The POC will contain vital information, including the vehicle’s registration details such as licensed number plate, model, year of manufacture, in addition to owner’s name and address.
“Having critically reviewed the challenges encountered in ensuring 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 May 9, 2023, adopted and made a resolution that POC should be issued to motorists on a yearly basis nationwide,” he added.
He further explained that the POC “is aimed at tracking the real-time status and guarantee in the integrity of all vehicles registered on the National Vehicle and Identification Scheme (NVIS) database.”
The new fee is an additional charge besides payment for vehicle particulars and registration.
