It may no longer be news that the Imo State Government, one of the south-eastern states in Nigeria recently unveiled a new vehicle plate number format for all cars designated for the Government House. This was obviously done as a renewed security measure to checkmate crimes which may be perpetrated using the old and easy-to-get government house plate numbers as a cover for easy get-away in vehicles. However, what we may not have thought of are the security implications of this new number plate as well as how such an exulted government vehicle plate number would have ever been used to commit crime.
This may sound normal to most carefree citizens of Imo state and Nigeria in general but intrinsically, it spells a huge security porousity for the security structures of the state. Miscreants may use private and even commercial vehicle plate numbers to perpetrate crime, but to also declare a government vehicle plate number unsafe is the height of safety and security breach in the state.
I commend the move by the Imo State government to checkmate crime by introducing the new government house vehicle plate, but my question is - if the former plate numbers went rogue, what guarantee do we get that this new number plate would not tow the line of its predecessor? This means that the Imo state government and indeed other state governments and the Federal government must wake up and stop paying lip service to security activities in the state. However, care must be taken not to adopt measures which may be unconstitutional or against the spirit of continuity in state administration.
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| Sampling old and new Plate Numbers |
Recalling the Former Plate Numbers from Imo State Government House Vehicles
I heard that as a result, the state Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has ordered immediate recall of all vehicles bearing the former plate numbers for immediate switchover to the new plate numbers which have better security features. He said in a press briefing that after this exercise, all Government House vehicles would bear the look and strength of a trusted security signature made possible by this newly introduced number plate.
This is a call and warning to all criminals in Imo state that crime has overstayed its welcome in the state. The governor has been on the vanguard of ensuring maximized safety and security of all Imo state citizens and officials.
I am not a politician nor a praise-singer. I am only being objective based on the actions on ground. However, I must not fail to criticize wherever and whenever I deem it necessary. I pray this gesture of new number plates for Imo State Government House vehicles will be largely marked by sincerity of purpose and commitment to state security and not for any political, personal or group gains alone.
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