Lagos, June 27, 2023: The Lagos State Government has announced the implementation of the annual proof of ownership certificate for vehicles, )PoC), as approved by the Joint Tax Board(JTB).
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Abdulhafiz Toriola, made the announcement at a news briefing in Alausa Ikeja, in Lagos on Tuesday.
Toriola said that the PoC was one of the components that verifies ownership of vehicles as well as ensuring compliance with legal or regulatory requirements.
He said that the implementation of a new initiative that aims to streamline and enhance the process of vehicle ownership verification which was the “annual PROOF OF OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATE (PoC).
According to him, the implementation was in line with compliance with legal requirement fundamental to transparency, security and accountability within transportation network.
“The initiative was 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 added 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 owners upon successful completion of the necessary requirements and procedures,” Toriola said.
He said that the PoC would contained vital information including the vehicle’s registration details, such as, license number plate, model, year of manufacture in addition to owner’s name and address.
Toriola said that PoC be issued to motorists on an annual basis nationwide.
He said the the State decision was aimed at tracking the real time status and guarantees the integrity of all vehicles registered on the National Vehicle and Identification Scheme (NVIS) database.
He said that for effective security administration, the annual PoC was specially printed and connected with other vehicle documents in the state through numerous benefit.
“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 (NVIS) database.
“PoC is based on the safety and security it guaranteed that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved for its commencement in Lagos State, hence this briefing to enlighten the public,” Toriola said.
He urge media to help in cascading this information down to the people in Lagos State for acceptance as it was with other States of the Federation.
The representative of the Lagos Sector Commander Babatunde Farinloye, Federal Road Safety Coprs (FRSC), Deputy Corps Commander in charge of Logistics, Tajudeen Mafe, said that 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 date base that would be generated by the Prove Of Ownership (PoC) would enhance national security.
The representative of Motor Vehicle Adminstration Agency (MVAV), Mrs Mrs Olabisi Olowolagba, said that the agency which is in charged of generating date for the state was happy with the introduction of PoC .
She said that the PoC was desirable and germaine to aide security.
Olowolagba said the MVAA would ensured the success of the PoC.
The representative of Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr Segun Obayendo, emphasised on the benefit of POC saying that it helps the statistics of vehicular population nationwide which could easily be obtained.
Obayendo said that PoC would provide solution to minimised car theft and recovery of stolen vehicles.
According to him, POC would streamline the fulfilment of uniform licensing scheme mandate.
“State motor vehicle document can easily be verified regardless of the issuing State as well as safety and security of of vehicles and other owners.
“The POC will enhance National Vehicle date for national security for planing and economic development.
The PoC Coordinator, Mr Adewale Okulenu, gave the vote of thanks by appreciating the commitment of the media towards enlightening people on the development.
