Fakoyejo OlalekanNigerians have spoken against the decision of the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, after he approved the vehicle ownership verification fee, also known as the Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC).
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola, in a statement on Tuesday.
The Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC), which will cost vehicle owners in Lagos State N1,000 annually, is a policy introduced by the Federal Government.
It will become effective starting next month, July 2023, according to Toriola, who said the certificate will represent the official documentation of a vehicle’s legal owners.
Toriola, during a press briefing, said: “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.
“The POC will contain 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.”
He explained that the vehicle ownership verification will boost safety and security within Lagos State, as it will help the government conduct real-time tracking of all vehicles registered on the National Vehicle and Identification Scheme (NVIS) database.
“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 and it 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 noted.
According to the Lagos state official, the Proof of Ownership Certificate is supported by the National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 as amended, No. 101, Vol. 99; Section 73 (1).
Nigerians react to Lagos State Gov’t’s decision to charge for Proof of Vehicle Ownership
Following the announcement, Nigerians took to Twitter to address the vehicle ownership verification fee, with some criticising the move.
They said it was another attempt of President Bola Tinubu to tax Nigerians more while using Lagos State, which he once governed, as a testing ground.
In his reaction, political commentator, FS Yusuf, with username, @FS_Yusuf_, said: “So Tinubu Administration will be imposing an annual fee of 1000 Naira on all car owners as “proof of ownership”.
“Please help me make this make sense!!! So why do we renew our papers with VIO annually!???, he asked, adding, “What has this people added to our pockets that they want to drain us this fast!????,”
Another political and social commentator with the username; @General_Oluchi, criticised the decision. She mocked the government, stating that people should also be taxed for proof of life.
“That’s nice. When will they do proof of life tax? It would be nice to pay some money to prove that you are alive,” General Oluchi wrote.
For Ayemojubar (@ayemojubar), the government is trying to widen the tax net through yearly Proof of Ownership Certificate, “You guys thought he was joking, the tentacles of his extortion blueprint in Lagos will touch every corner of this nation. Una never see anything,” the Twitter user added.
Joseph Adeleke, with the username, @everyteenscoach, also contributed to the discussion on Twitter, stating: “You been enter public bus, Tfare increase, You vex buy your car, fuel increase, You overlook am talk say you go survive.
“Well, Dem don ask for payment of proof of ownership certificate. Na just 1000 pere. E no concern police wey dey task for road o abi Agbero fee for Lagos.”
ESOSA, with the username, @TheRealEsosa, shared the same sentiment in his post, which reads: “So those who have a vehicle will be paying 1k tax, Proof of Ownership Certificate.
“Na small time remain we go soon dey pay tax to waka for Benin road. The Lagos tax system is spreading across. Tinubu ride on. Shege just start,” he wrote, with a clap.
Also, Mighty Mohammed (@The__Vyrus) didn’t hide his feelings against the decision to tax Lagosians for vehicle ownership proof.
“You now have to renew proof of ownership too?,” he asked with laughing emojis, adding “Tinubu is just bringing the agboro taxation schemes of Lagos to a national level.
“Nobody’s safe! Taxes choke!!! Next move will be toll gates all over the country. Watch and see,” he told his followers.
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