In Akwa Ibom, police have started enforcing the Third Party Vehicle Insurance requirement. On Saturday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, led an operation to ensure that drivers have the necessary insurance certificates. This operation follows an order from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, directing all police forces in Nigeria to begin checking for third-party insurance starting February 1, 2025.

CP Azare and his team visited key areas in the state, including Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, to monitor compliance. He expressed satisfaction that many drivers were carrying the correct documents, including the required insurance certificates. However, some vehicles were impounded for failing to show the proper papers.

Azare stated that vehicles without the correct documents would only be released once the owners present them within a given timeframe. If the owners fail to do so, they will face legal action. He emphasized that the law applies to everyone, regardless of status, noting that even prominent individuals, such as a local government deputy chairman, had their vehicles seized for not having the proper papers.

The Commissioner urged all vehicle owners to ensure their insurance documents are up to date and to carry all required papers when driving. He made it clear that ignorance of the law is not an excuse and that the police would continue to enforce the law strictly.

Some drivers, whose vehicles were impounded, said they were unaware of the enforcement exercise. One driver, Kingsley Wilson, explained that he didn’t know about the police check and mistakenly brought the wrong documents.

The police are committed to ensuring that all vehicles on the road in Akwa Ibom comply with the Third Party Insurance requirement, improving road safety for everyone.