Opinion

Judgement On FRSC’s New Number Plate: In Whose Interest?

Published

12 years ago

March 31, 2014

A Federal High Court in Lagos, Wednesday held that the on-going exercise by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, to replace the old number plate with a new one is illegal and unconstitutional because there is no law empowering it to carry out the exercise.
The court declared that FRSC had no legal authority to impose new number plates on motorists in the country.
What does this judgement mean to people in Port Harcourt? Our chief correspondent, Calista Ezeaku and Photographer, Dele Obinna went round the city to find out.
Excerpt:

Ms Enale Kodu (Ph.D) Journalist:
If they say it was unconstitutional for FRSC to impose new number plates on motorists, what of the people who have already been embarrassed and harassed by Road Safety over this issue and the money involved in the change to the new number plates? It is really unfair that at this point the judgement is given. Why didn’t they give that judgement before FRSC implemented the new number plate idea and started harassing people? What I’m saying is that the concerned citizen that took the matter to court should have done that before people were put through the stress of changing their number plates.
So I think that since they have started issuing new number plates, they should continue it because many people have already spent their money, obtaining the new number plates, except their money would be refunded. If they want to cancel it, court should compel FRSC to find a way of refunding all that have already spent their money on the new number plates.
Many people objected to the idea when it was introduced but FRSC went ahead to implement it. I know how many times the matter came up in House of Representatives but FRSC did not bulge, the same thing they are doing with the new driver’s license may tomorrow take the drivers license issue to court and they will feel it is unconstitutional also.
So if the court has given that judgement on number plates they should do the same on driver’s license so that we will know what our stand is now. Why can’t FRSC be sure of the constitutionality of their ideas before forcing people to comply with them. And when they started they enforce it so much that you are pushed even if you have to beg, borrow or steal just to ensure that they don’t harass you on the road and it is really unfair.
So if they are stopping the issuance of the new number plates, they should equally stop the new driver’s license because people are suffering, going to internal revenue just to change their driver’s license. They should stop everything and refund people their money. I don’t understand the essence of the new number plate. It’s just a change of material, that’s all I know. One artists comes up with one funny thing. Even our old number plate was more Nigerian than this new one that they have to draw Nigerian Map. We are proud of our country but the old number plate really showed the Nigerian flag very properly and people understood it. And I know internationally that is what other countries used. So what more do they want? Why should they put the whole map there, making it very funny.

Mrs Joy Grant-Amadi – Journalist:
The judgement is a good step in the right direction because people have been complaining and suffering over this issue. I wonder how people will spend a whole sum of N35,000 just to get a new number plate. We were told the new number plate was introduced as a way of checking crime and as a source of date base and all that, but in spite of all that people’s cars are still being stolen and all that. In fact, we have not gotten the impact of the new number plate. But I want to tell you that I’m very happy because I have not changed mine and I’m really happy for the person that took the matter up in court and I pray that he court’s decision will stand.
I personally do not see the need for the change of number plates. It’s just a way of extorting money from ordinary Nigerians and the people that have paid for the new number plates should cry out. They need to get back their money. Let them compensate them in one way or the other.
FRSC should abandoned the new number plate exercise because there are a lot of people that have not bought it. Not everybody can afford it. A lot of people, even taxi drivers have packed their cars because of the issue of new number plate and new driver’s license to avoid being harassed and abused by FRSC, police and other road traffic agents.
Everyone can’t afford the huge sum of money required to get them.

Mr Bright Amaehwule – Civil Servant:
The Federal High Court is in the right direction. The Federal Road Safety Commission has no right to impose new number plates because they were the ones that issued the old one, which people paid for. So it is not every time that they come up with ideas of how to make money that they force them on the people. So the Federal High Court is in the right direction and we the public are very happy with the judgement. And FRSC should refund all those that have bought the new number plates because we are in one Nigeria and we have one constitution which disallows the use of the old number plate.
Whatever FRSC wants to achieve with the new number plate can also be achieved with the old one. If you call for car owners to bring their vehicles and the numbers, the data are installed, they can be tracked. The same numbers they previously issued can be tracked instead of issuing new ones. In fact there are no difference between the old numbers and the new numbers.

Sokaribo West (Esq) – Lawyer:
For me that judgement is a welcome idea. Kudos to the judiciary for that judgement because there are a lot of people today who do not understand why the Road Safety Commission should impose new number plate on people when there are existing plate number. In fact, even the amount of money required to obtain the new number plate is just too exorbitant. You are changing the number plate to a new one and at the same time you said we should also change the driver’s license to a new one. How many people have money to do that?
So, I think the judgement is okay. Not everybody will go to court to challenge these ideas from FRSC but the people who went to court for it have gotten judgement. Even though Road Safety will appeal, the y will still fail eventually.
FRSC does not really have the right to impose new number plates on the people. I think last year this same issue of the new number plate went to the National Assembly and some well-meaning people kicked against it. They even told them to go back and review the amount they were imposing on the new number plates. The amount is just too high. For me now, I understand I have to pay about N40,000 for a new number plate and at the same time pay for a new driver’s license. So, I think it is unconstitutional. The constitution does not give them power to do that.
I was even of the opinion that if I have an existing number plate, why should I pay that much for a new one, except I’m registering a new vehicle all together then you can now tell me that you have reviewed the fees for number plates. It is now so, so, so percentage. But when I had already spent so much before now to put the number plate I’m using and you are asking me to come and pay triple of that amount because you are now giving me a number plate with flower on it. So what is the essence. It is unconstitutional.
Even the time frame given to car owners to change to the new number plates is another thing. There are a lot of people who are complaining that some Road Safety officials are even collecting bribe from persons in order to give them the new number plates. Apart from that, some persons even paid for this new number plate since last year and up till now, they have not gotten it so there will be a lot of discrepancies in this issue. And you know Nigerians, they use the eleventh hour to make money. So I feel if the national assembly has given a go ahead to the new number plates, FRSC should review the amount of money involved. Secondly, this thing should be done over a period of time not just this fire brigade approach to it.

Chief Bethel Dappa – Chairman, NURTW, Abali Park:
We are happy about the judgement. How can they tell you to come and buy something which you have bought before. So we thank the judge. This type of thing should continue. Government should stop cheating people because I already have number plate and you are telling me to come and buy another one for N35,000, N40,000, that is one of the best I have heard so far. And I know that the whole idea of changing number plate would not be realistic because if you go to the northern part of the country, nobody is buying it. It is only in the East here that people are buying. In the North and West, people are not buying it. And the imposition of the new number plate is a big burden to commercial drivers. None of the vehicles we use for our business is a new one. They are all Tokunbo vehicles that have been used for up to ten years. Everyday the vehicle is at the mechanic workshop. No commercial car owner can save up to N20,000 in a month and now they are forcing us to pay N35,000 for a new number plate.
There is no need for new number plates. It is a wrong idea. You tell somebody to buy a number plate and after that, you force him to buy another one. Number plates do not expire like vehicle particulars. Now there is new driver’s license too and to obtain it you pay up to N15,000. They don’t ask whether the drivers feed or not or whether their businesses are moving or not. They come up with these ideas to make life difficult for people. There is no job in this country. Everybody in this country, including graduates are suffering. I have two sons, two daughters that have graduated from tertiary institutions, no job for them. All of them are at home worrying me.

Mr Donatus Mpune – Public Service:
If the constitution did not give Road Safety the power to impose new number plates on the people, I think I support what the judge has done. You see, there is nothing wrong with the idea of having new number plates except that they shouldn’t have need extra cost to owners of vehicles. When the idea of a new plate number was muted by FRSC, they told us that they were adding more information to the new number plate, which would serve as a data base to any other government organ or interested persons. That aspect, I support. But I’m not in support of extra financial cost of acquiring these new number plates on vehicle owners.

Opinion

Righteous Leadership Still Thrives

Published

5 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Institutional decay is not irreversible when integrity and action sit at the helm.”

In every institution, there comes a defining moment when leadership either deepens decline or inspires rebirth. For the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (Publishers of The Tide), that defining moment arrived when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir. Honour Sirawoo Ph.D, came to share the premises with the Staff of The Corporation due to the ongoing renovation work at the State Secretariat. For years, the physical condition of the corporation mirrored the uncertainty that hung in the air. Leaking roofs told silent stories during the rainy season, damaged floors bore the weight of neglect, and the once vibrant environment seemed to plead for urgent attention. Staff members worked under conditions that tested both resilience and commitment. Buckets placed strategically to catch dripping water became a routine sight at some quarters, while cracked tiles and weathered walls diminished the pride that should accompany service in a state-owned media institution.

Yet, in the midst of these challenges, hope was not entirely lost. There remained a collective belief that with purposeful leadership, restoration was possible. That hope found expression when Honour Sirawoo Ph.D., Permanent Secretary in the Rivers State Ministry of Information, assumed as a co-occupier. His arrival was quiet, but his impact would soon resonate loudly across the premises.Leadership, it is often said, is not about occupying an office but about occupying responsibility. From his earliest inspections of the corporation’s facilities, it became evident that he saw not just buildings in disrepair, but a workforce deserving of dignity.The transformation began swiftly. Contractors appeared on site. Assessments were carried out with precision. Plans were not merely announced; they were implemented. Leaking roofs that had long defied repair were carefully amended.

For the first time in years, staff could listen to rainfall without anxiety. Damaged floors were reconstructed, restoring both safety and aesthetics. Walking through the corridors no longer required cautious navigation around broken surfaces. The fencing of the premises, once a pressing security concern, became a priority. A properly secured environment now speaks of order, responsibility, and foresight. General maintenance, often overlooked in public institutions, was institutionalized. From structural reinforcements to aesthetic upgrades, the corporation began to wear a new look. But beyond bricks and mortar, something deeper changed. Morale improved. Staff productivity increased. The psychological boost of working in a conducive environment cannot be overstated. The transformation has not merely been cosmetic; it has been cultural.

Workers now speak with renewed pride about their workplace. Visitors to the premises have noticed the difference. The once tired-looking structures now stand as testimony to what decisive leadership can accomplish. In governance, righteousness is reflected in fairness, diligence, and a genuine concern for people. These virtues have characterized the stewardship of Honour Sirawoo Ph.D.His approach demonstrates that public office is a sacred trust, not a ceremonial title. He has shown that administrative leadership can be both compassionate and result-driven.The improvements at the corporation align with a broader vision of strengthening information dissemination in Rivers State. A vibrant media institution is essential for democratic growth.By restoring the physical infrastructure of The Tide, he has indirectly strengthened the voice of the state. Journalists and editors now operate in an atmosphere that encourages excellence.

It is often said that environment influences output. The recent editions and renewed energy within the newsroom reflect this truth. When righteous leadership prevails, systems respond positively. Accountability replaces complacency, and progress becomes measurable. Honour Sirawoo Ph.D. has exemplified a leadership style rooted in integrity and practical action. He did not merely acknowledge problems; he confronted them. Such commitment deserves recognition beyond routine commendation. It speaks to a capacity for higher responsibilities within the state’s administrative architecture. Rivers State stands at a critical juncture where visionary administrators are needed across ministries and agencies. Leaders who understand that development begins with attention to detail are invaluable. The transformation at the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation serves as a case study in responsive governance. It proves that institutional decay is not irreversible.

Higher positions of trust demand proven competence, moral uprightness, and administrative foresight. In these respects, Honour Sirawoo Ph.D. has demonstrated remarkable readiness. His performance suggests suitability not only for continued leadership within the Ministry of Information but also for broader strategic roles that shape state policy. Beyond the state, Nigeria’s public service landscape requires administrators who combine academic depth with practical efficiency. His credentials and achievements place him in that league. “When the righteous bear rule, the people rejoice” is more than a biblical aphorism; it is a lived experience within the corporation today. The chapter of the Holy Bible that declares, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice”, (Proverbs 29:2), is a timeless reminder that good governance brings joy and stability to the people.

The joy of the staff is visible in their renewed dedication. The pride of ownership has returned. The institution breathes again. History often remembers leaders not for speeches but for tangible impact. The restored roofs, repaired floors, secured fences, and ongoing maintenance are enduring symbols of purposeful governance. The place started its journey to new looks with the arrival of the acting General Manager, Stella Gbaraba, who in her little way, initiated and executed some repair works in the premises. It will be worthy to point out that the duo are of the Ogoni extraction of the state, it is then safe to say that the combination is superb in that it has produced some excellent results. Importantly, the Permanent Secretary did not stop at The Tide Newspaper premises alone. His vision of renewal extended beyond a single institution to embrace all the State owned media houses under the ministry’s supervision.

At Rivers State Television, he executed massive renovation works that redefined the operational environment. Offices were upgraded, structural defects corrected, and modern standards restored to a facility that serves as a visual voice of the state. State-of-the-art office equipment were procured to enhance efficiency, ensuring that staff members could perform their duties with contemporary tools befitting a modern broadcast station. Radio Rivers too also got its own share of the Permanent Secretary’s benevolence and team spirit. Understanding the strategic importance of radio in grassroots communication, he ensured that critical infrastructure received attention. He provided them with steady power supply, reducing the interruptions that once hampered seamless broadcasting and ensuring consistency in programming delivery.

A functional Out Broadcast Van (OB Van) was made available, expanding the station’s capacity for live coverage of events across the state and beyond. The studios were upgraded to be up-to-date, improving sound quality, technical operations, and overall broadcast standards in line with modern expectations. Garden City Radio equally got its own touch in a superlative way. Renovation, equipment upgrades, and operational enhancements positioned the station on a stronger footing. Across the board, his interventions were not selective but comprehensive, reflecting a leadership philosophy anchored on inclusiveness and institutional strengthening. His target generally is to leave the State-owned media houses in a better shape than he met them. That objective is not rhetorical; it is practical and measurable in bricks, cables, studios, offices, and renewed human confidence.

By strengthening television, radio, and print under one coordinated vision, he has reinforced the information architecture of Rivers State. The cumulative effect of these interventions is a more vibrant, responsive, and professional state media system capable of meeting contemporary communication demands. As the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation along side its sister state-owned media houses continue their journey, it does so strengthened by the evidence that righteous leadership still thrives. And indeed, when the righteous bear rule, the people truly rejoice.

By: King Onunwor

Opinion

Incentives: Key to Police Morale

Published

5 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “When a police officer rejects ?50 million in bribes to rescue over 100 victims, integrity stops being a slogan and becomes a standard.”

It is important we first commend the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his policies that are geared towards eradicating terrorism and banditry in the country. In recent times, his policy on national security which resulted in strategic partnership with United States of America and other countries, has paid off. In the same vein, we commend the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for implementing the security policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which has culminated into effective, proactive and result-oriented policing. Also worthy of note is the effective oversight function of the Police Service Commission (PSC) led by DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd) in terms of adequate monitoring and supervision of personnel. The Nigeria Police Force has been plagued by negative perceptions in recent years, with some officers engaging in unprofessional conducts.

The Police high command and the Police Service Commission (PSC), in line with rules and regulations governing the Force, have being prompt in punishing erring officers. We have seen some officers dismissed from the service for gross misconduct while some others were punished depending on the gravity of their offense. While we commend the Police authority for their proactiveness in restoring discipline to the Force, they should also imbibe the culture of rewarding distinguished and outstanding Police officers. Very Senior Officers like the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Auwal Musa Mohammed, in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, who ensured personnel and men in his zone comply and adhere fully to security tactics and instructions of IGP Egbekotun that translated to massive achievement over the weekend should be encouraged.

Meanwhile, the likes of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zonal CID 6 Calabar, DCP Udu Moses Ogechi, PhD, who are working tirelessly to restore reputation to the Police Force should be rewarded to boost their morale, and inspire other officers to put in their best. DCP Ogechi is currently the Head of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) in Zone 6, Calabar. He recently led a successful operation on Valentines Day (14th February) to dismantle a kidnapping and job-scam syndicate, rescuing over 100 victims. The syndicate had been exploiting Nigerians, particularly youths who are eager to relocate abroad, promising them fake job opportunities and visa.What is remarkable about DCP Ogechi’s achievement is not just the rescue of the victims, but also his refusal to be swayed by corruption. The syndicate attempted to bribe him with ?50 million, but he and his team rejected the offer, stood firm and demonstrated their commitment to professionalism and the rule of law.

This is commendable and deserving of recognition. DCP Ogechi’s patriotic action and his uncompromising stance especially at a time when the Police Force is working to regain public trust, deserves accolades and recognition by the police authorities. His bravery and integrity in the face of corruption are a shining example to other officers. DCP Ogechi’s sterling personality did not come as a surprise to us given his track record of excellent performance everywhere he goes. While serving in Rivers State as ACP Operations, he successfully flushed out cultists from the State. He led the team that apprehended notorious cultists led by Nwondi Onuigwe who were responsible for killing Police Officers, kidnapping and robbery of passengers along Emohua East West road. Recall that the Rivers State Government had placed millions of Naira bounty on Wordi.

It is on record that crime was reduced to its barest minimum during Ogechi’s reign as ACP Operations in Rivers State. His efforts earned him an award for excellent professionalism from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council. As Nigeria strives to strengthen its institutions and combat corruption, it is essential to acknowledge serving officers who have distinguished themselves. The reward system is a crucial aspect of motivating officers to perform their duties creditably. Rewarding deserving officers like DCP Ogechi will surely inspire other fine officers who are working tirelessly to rid our society of crimes and criminality.

By: Ike Wigodo

Opinion

Time and Season Can Tell

Published

2 weeks ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”In matters of the heart, seasons expose what emotions try to hide.”

There is a silent crisis unfolding in modern relationships—one that many people endure quietly but rarely articulate. It is the experience of emotional attachment without clarity. Unlike betrayal, which announces itself loudly, or conflict, which forces confrontation, this crisis creeps in softly. It begins with warmth, grows through shared vulnerability, and then dissolves into silence. In my observation, some of the deepest emotional wounds are not inflicted by harsh words or dramatic endings. They are caused by something far subtler: the gradual withdrawal of affection without explanation. Silence in relationships is often mistaken for neutrality, but it is not neutral. Silence communicates—only it does so in a language of confusion. When someone slowly retreats without offering clarity, they leave the other person suspended between hope and reality.

There is no clear goodbye, no decisive closure—only distance. The unanswered messages. The reduced enthusiasm. The subtle shift in tone. Emotional ambiguity can be more painful than open rejection because it denies finality while sustaining expectation. It leaves the heart in limbo. In today’s world of instant communication and digital closeness, emotional intensity is frequently mistaken for love. When someone gives us attention, listens attentively, checks in consistently, and offers companionship during vulnerable moments, it is natural to assume that something meaningful is forming. After all, connection feels like commitment. But attention is not always intention. Closeness is not always clarity. In emotionally complicated relationships, there is often an imbalance that goes unnoticed at first. One person invests deeply—emotionally, mentally, even spiritually—while the other remains cautiously detached.

The connection may feel mutual, but the level of commitment is not. And when investment is unequal, pain eventually follows. One of the most dangerous consequences of such relationships is how subtly we lose ourselves in them. It does not happen overnight. It begins with small shifts. We check our phones more often. We rearrange our schedules. We replay conversations in our minds. Gradually, our emotional world begins to orbit around one person. Friends grow distant. Personal goals lose urgency. Self-worth becomes tied—quietly but firmly—to someone else’s presence and validation. When that person withdraws, the collapse feels catastrophic. Yet the devastation is not solely because love has ended. It is because identity has been shaken. We are not grieving only the person; we are grieving the version of ourselves that depended on them.

Silence, I have come to believe, can function as a form of power. When one person controls communication through distance—responding selectively, appearing and disappearing unpredictably—they unintentionally gain emotional dominance. The other person is left waiting, interpreting, hoping. They analyze every word, every delay, every change in tone. This imbalance may not always be intentional. Sometimes it arises from emotional immaturity or fear of confrontation. Yet its impact is undeniable. It reveals an uncomfortable truth: emotional availability is not guaranteed simply because connection exists. Chemistry does not equal commitment. Attraction does not equal accountability. With time, I began to understand that not every relationship is meant to last. Some people enter our lives not as permanent partners, but as temporary teachers.

They are not there to complete us, but to confront us—with our vulnerabilities, insecurities, and unmet needs. At first, this realization felt discouraging. It seemed to reduce love to a series of lessons. But eventually, it felt liberating. Emotional loss stopped looking like failure and started looking like revelation. Each experience—especially the painful ones—exposed areas where I needed growth. Where I needed stronger boundaries. Where I needed deeper self-awareness. Boundaries, I have learned, are not barriers against love; they are protections for it. Love without boundaries is not love—it is emotional exposure. Connection without clarity is not intimacy—it is uncertainty. Affection without commitment is not partnership—it is illusion. Healthy love requires mutual understanding, transparency, and intentionality. It demands that both individuals stand on equal emotional ground. Where one speaks, the other listens.

Where one invests, the other reciprocates. Where one withdraws, the other communicates. Time, more than emotion, reveals truth. In the beginning, feelings are loud. They rush, they excite, they overwhelm. But time tests what emotions promise. It exposes inconsistency. It clarifies intention. It separates temporary attraction from sustainable partnership. Seasons, too, teach us something essential about relationships. No season lasts forever. Some bring growth. Others bring pruning. Some relationships stay long enough to build a foundation; others stay just long enough to teach resilience. Neither is wasted. When we accept that relationships operate in seasons, we release the need to force permanence. We stop chasing clarity from those unwilling to give it. We stop romanticizing inconsistency. We stop equating intensity with depth.

Instead, we begin to value emotional safety over emotional excitement. We learn that peace is more sustaining than passion without direction. We recognize that self-worth must never depend on someone else’s attention.In matters of the heart, time and season always tell.They reveal who is consistent and who is convenient. They expose what is genuine and what is temporary. They show whether a connection is rooted in intention—or merely in circumstance. And perhaps the greatest wisdom is this: not every silence deserves to be decoded. Some silences are answers. When we understand that, we stop fearing endings. We begin trusting timing. We stop clinging to uncertainty and start choosing clarity.Because in the end, the heart may feel quickly—but time always tells the truth.

By: Isiocha Kate