Nigerian Plates Scandal

The Lagos Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, the equivalent of our DVLA, stands accused of selling fake number plates.

Genuine plates bear the Nigerian flag together and the inscription 'Peace and Unity' both, bizarrely, missing from the counterfeit versions.

Motorcyclist, David Onisonjo, says that most people are totally unaware that they are buying fake plates. Another two-wheel enthusiast, Emeka Romanus, actually purchased his plate at his local tax office, only to find out later that it was false.

It turns out that, not only are the authorities, allegedly putting illegal plates into circulation, but they are then instructing the police to arrest those displaying them.

Another biker, Emmanuel Udoh, who uses his vehicle for business, thinks that most people are attracted by the cheapness of the alternative plates.

He insists that they could not have been issued by the authorities:

"They get these fake ones from touts that hang around licensing offices, instead of going to the office," he says.

A spokesman for the Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, claimed that the agency had no knowledge of the fake plate reports.

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