On 23 June 2025, the Federal High Court in Lagos (Justice Musa Kakaki) affirmed the FRSC’s authority to enforce vehicle number-plate regulations, dismissing a suit that had challenged that power.
The ruling
The court held that hand-painting number plates violates the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2016, and that confiscating a driver’s licence for such a violation does not infringe fundamental rights. The FRSC urged motorists to “desist from acts that… contravene laid-down regulations, such as tampering with or altering number plates in any form.”
What it means for you
Improvised, hand-painted or altered plates are not just risky – they are illegal and can cost you your licence. The safest path is a properly issued, registered number plate.
How GetItDone helps
Need new plates or a plate reprint? We handle proper allocation and registration so your vehicle carries genuine, compliant plates.
Renew your vehicle papers online
Source: Lawyard (Aug 2025), reporting the 23 June 2025 ruling.