Govt offers discount on Vehicle Number Plate replacement, announces new figure

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has announced a temporary reduction in the cost of replacing faded or damaged vehicle number plates, cutting the fee from ₦30,000 to ₦20,000. The measure, part of a three-month amnesty and rebate window, will run from January to March 2026.

Approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the initiative targets both private and commercial vehicle owners across Lagos, aiming to improve vehicle identification, strengthen security, and enhance road safety throughout the state.

The Permanent Secretary of the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), Rasheed Muri-Okunola, described the rebate as “a deliberate, citizen-focused intervention designed to encourage motorists to voluntarily replace worn, faded, or illegible number plates at a significantly reduced cost.”

He highlighted the security implications of faded or damaged plates, explaining that their condition affects “security, traffic enforcement, and crime prevention, as unreadable plates hinder effective monitoring, investigation, and identification of vehicles.”

“Clear and readable number plates are fundamental to public safety and security. This amnesty period allows motorists to replace faded plates at ₦20,000 instead of ₦30,000, thereby reducing the financial burden while supporting collective efforts to make Lagos safer,” Muri-Okunola said.

He stressed that the rebate is valid only within the January to March 2026 window, urging vehicle owners with faded or damaged plates to take advantage of the initiative by visiting the Pilot Centre at the Oshodi One-Stop Centre or any of the agency’s 140 stations across the state.

According to Muri-Okunola, the programme also addresses rising security concerns linked to unreadable number plates, noting that “legible and standardised plates are critical to crime detection, traffic management, digital vehicle tracking, and emergency response systems.”

He warned that after the amnesty period ends in March 2026, “the replacement fee would revert to the original ₦30,000, while enforcement measures would be fully applied to ensure compliance.”

Man fakes his own Kidnapping, forces Brother to sell property for N12 million ransom

The Edo State Police Command has uncovered a staged kidnapping in Ekpoma, where a man allegedly faked his own abduction, forcing his brother to sell property to raise a ransom.

The incident was reported to the police on January 10, according to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Eno Ikoedem.

Investigations revealed that the supposed victim, identified as Idris Isiaka, a vulcanizer based on Balogun Street in the Emaudo community of Ekpoma, conspired with two accomplices to orchestrate the fake kidnap.

Police said Isiaka arranged for news of his “abduction” to be circulated on social media through a blogger and subsequently demanded a ransom of ₦12 million from his family.

Believing the story to be genuine, his brother reportedly sold a personal property in a desperate bid to secure his release.

However, detectives later uncovered the deception and arrested Isiaka along with his collaborators.

The police described the act as criminal and deceitful, warning members of the public against engaging in similar schemes.

The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to face prosecution once investigations are concluded.

The PPRO explained that the suspect “immediately engineered the circulation of his kidnap on social media through a blogger and demanded a ransom of Twelve Million Naira.

“His family in Kogi State was further contacted, threatening that he would be killed if the ransom was not paid”.

He said the brother, however, “sold his property and paid part of the ransom money which was shared with his accomplices, one Mohammed Saliu and Godwin Mohammed, both of whom are currently at large.

“The suspect has confessed to the crime. He will be arraigned in court after investigation”.

Kwankwaso sets tough conditions for possible APC defection

Former Kano State Governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has indicated that any move toward the All Progressives Congress (APC) would depend on firm guarantees regarding political control in Kano and the protection of his supporters.

He made this known on Wednesday at his Miller Road home in Kano while receiving party leaders and loyalists from Rano and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas, as well as members of various Kwankwasiyya groups who used the visit to restate their allegiance to the NNPP.

“I didn’t say I won’t join APC, but we must first be clearly assured of the future of the Kano State government before we join the APC. What will be the fate of our lawmakers and other supporters before we agree to defect?” Kwankwaso said.

Reflecting on previous political alliances, the former governor warned against repeating past mistakes, recalling how his political bloc once helped to build a government but was later marginalized.

“In the past, we joined and contributed to forming the government, but later we were abandoned. That was why we left the party. Have they now changed their position toward us? Everyone knows the role we played at that time,” he added.

Kwankwaso emphasised that discussions about defection remain premature, insisting that no concrete commitments have been offered to safeguard the NNPP’s hold on power or its organizational framework in the state.

“Up till now, no one has given me a clear assurance that we will be allowed to retain our government and continue with our political structure. I need to know where I stand,” he said.

The gathering drew several senior government and party figures, including Deputy Governor Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Commissioner for Science and Technology Yusuf Kofar Mata, NNPP state chairman Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, and other prominent officials. All openly reaffirmed their loyalty to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Political watchers noted that the visible solidarity from top officials points to growing internal tensions and further underscores Kwankwaso’s strong grip on the party, especially amid rumors surrounding a possible defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the APC.

Analysts believe Kwankwaso’s measured position reflects a broader strategy to secure political structures and protect loyalists as preparations gradually shift toward the 2027 general elections.