From Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is going after fake, covered, defaced and obsolete number plates. According to the corps, such plates will “no longer be treated as a minor traffic infraction.” So, before you drive out, take five minutes to verify plate number details for your car.
In fact, the operation Guduma is the second phase of an exercise FRSC exercise. The corps ran the first phase in May 2026 and it led to 1,691 arrests across 11 states, and 1,003 of them were for number plate offences.
How to Verify Plate Number Online
The quickest check is on FRSC’s National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) portal. 
- Go to nvis.frsc.gov.ng.
- Click Verify Number Plate.
- Type your plate number exactly as it appears on the plate, then click Submit.
The result should show the details registered to that plate, such as the vehicle model. Next, compare them with your car and your vehicle papers. However, if the portal says the plate isn’t registered, or the details belong to a different car, you have a problem to fix.
Prefer to do it in person? Visit any vehicle licensing office with your documents. In Lagos, Visit any Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) office.
Check the Plate Itself
Even so, a genuine plate can still get you stopped. So before Monday, November 2, walk round your car and look at both plates.
- Is anything covering it? Remove tinted covers, stickers or frames that hide any letter or number.
- Can you read it? Bent, broken, peeling or repainted plates count as defaced. Never hand-paint the letters.
- Is it fixed properly? It should sit firmly in its holder, front and back, not on the dashboard or in the boot.
ALSO SEE: How Fake FRSC Fine Links Are Costing Nigerians Millions
Buying a Used Car? Check First
Above all, this check matters before you pay for a car. To start, verify plate number details on the portal, then match the result with the seller’s papers and the car in front of you. If anything doesn’t add up, walk away.
Otherwise, you may pay for a car that isn’t legally registered to the seller.
What to Do if Your Plate Fails
First, go straight to a government licensing office to correct the record or replace the plate. In Lagos, MVAA has warned motorists to avoid unauthorised agents and use only approved centres.
As the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Rasheed Muri-Okunola, put it, “Clear and properly maintained number plates are essential for vehicle identification and security.”
Five minutes on your phone tonight could save you a long Monday, November 2, at an FRSC checkpoint.
READ ALSO: How Much Are FRSC Fines? Here’s What Nigerian Drivers Need to Know
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