Nigerians should brace for yet another round of hardship as the Federal Board of Internal Revenue (FBIR), in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), plans price hike number plates and vehicle papers.
For sure, both the relevant and irrelevant agencies, officially assigned to roadwork or patrol, will seize this opportunity to cash in on the new, unpopular policy—for their bosses and themselves. For the average Nigerian without connections, this new policy means an additional avenue for extortion.
The FBIR, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), the Police, state road agencies, and many others will likely welcome the policy as another way to “get along”—or in Hausa parlance, “samun alheri” (getting extra [illegal] money).
The hike, coming shortly after the recent increase in the price of a litre of petroleum, will undoubtedly trigger yet another rise in the cost of all commodities and services, as transporters will be forced to raise their charges, likely disproportionately.
Already, motor vehicles are becoming a luxury, affordable only to government officials in the Villa and various Government Houses, top political appointees, prominent politicians, ultra-rich business moguls, top employees of private companies, and wealthy business people. This policy—and any further hostile ones—will solidify cars as a status symbol that only the wealthy can afford.
Electricity in Nigeria is another luxury enjoyed by the same class. Despite doubled tariffs, those placed in the so-called Band A do not receive the “at least 20 hours per day” that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, claimed 40% of Nigerians are getting daily. He made this statement while reviewing his ministry’s activities during the current administration’s first anniversary. This writer, despite being on the Federal Government’s disallowed tariff hike of N30,000 per month, still doesn’t get up to 16 hours of electricity per day. As I write this article, I sit in darkness, deprived of electricity from the supplier.
The FBIR’s forced review of driver’s licenses and vehicle papers will unfortunately provide a backhanded opportunity for sackings or transfers for some greedy road officers or police who fail to recognize an important person traveling incognito.
In many instances, the police take on the roles of both FRSC and VIO, stopping vehicles on the road and asking for “particulars” or questioning the roadworthiness of the vehicles. Anyone unlucky enough not to have the “required” papers is, in the eyes of the road “official,” unfit to drive and is at the mercy of the interrogator, who will state a price that MUST be paid on the spot. Otherwise, the victim faces a one-way trip to the police station, where they may be stuck until a payment is made or someone comes to bail them out.
Some time ago, my wife and I were stopped by police on the Kaduna-Abuja road. Three officers approached our car and, after a quick look, asked for my particulars. I handed them over, confident that everything was up to date. When they realized that all my papers were in order, they requested to see my fire extinguisher and reflector. They even checked the tires, as if inspecting the vehicle’s road-worthiness. The car, a brand-new Honda Accord (popularly known as ‘Honda Hala’), was in perfect shape.
Despite everything being in order, the officers walked away with my papers and began attending to another vehicle. When I asked for my papers, one of them told me to “see the oga,” who was sitting under a tree some meters away. The oga sent me back to the officers, suggesting that I “sort it out” with them.
Realizing that they were determined to extort money from me, I called a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) at Force Headquarters. To my relief, he answered promptly and cheerfully. After I narrated the situation, he asked to speak to the team leader. When I handed over the phone, the leader asked me, “What did you tell oga at the headquarters?” Before I could respond, he added in pidgin, “No be dem send us out?” I replied that he should direct his question to the DIGP. I then collected my papers and drove off without further issues.
Given the current circumstances, charitable organizations and individuals have even more reason to redouble their efforts to feed the needy. The environment is harsh and severe, making it especially challenging for the vulnerable in Nigeria.
May God help us survive and persevere in the unfriendly conditions we face in this country.
Labaran wrote from Katsina.
