By Egufe Yafuborghi & Chioma Onuegbu

UYO—The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Baba Mohammed Azare, has pledged to impound vehicles without valid Third-Party Insurance documents starting from February 1, 2025.

Azare urged vehicle owners in the state to renew all vehicle particulars, including insurance papers, before the enforcement date to avoid sanctions.

He made this statement on Monday during a meeting with key stakeholders, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), held in Uyo.

In his words:

*“Recall that the Inspector General of Police recently directed that all commands enforce Section 68 of the Insurance Act and Section 312 of the 1945 Motor Vehicle (Third-Party Insurance) Act nationwide starting February 1, 2025.

“We convened this stakeholders’ meeting so you can sensitize your members about the importance of obtaining Third-Party Vehicle Insurance. Once your vehicle particulars are intact, there will be no issue.

“However, if you fail to provide valid documents, your vehicle will be impounded and taken to the nearest police station. Until you renew your documents, the vehicle will not be released.

“We will visit all local government areas in the state to enforce compliance and appeal to the public to cooperate with our officers during the enforcement exercise.

“This is not a new requirement. It has always been part of your vehicle particulars; we are simply reawakening awareness about its importance.”*

During the meeting, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), Mr. Okon Okon, commended the Police Command for being proactive. He emphasized that third-party insurance is a fundamental requirement for all vehicles.

Similarly, Comrade Sunny James, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), lauded the police for organizing a strategic meeting on the enforcement. He appealed to the public to renew their vehicle particulars before the grace period ends.

On his part, David Okon, Deputy State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), supported the initiative but requested an extension of the timeline to ensure successful compliance across the state.