Nigeria Police is set to digitize the country’s motor registration system in a move to curb rampant crime especially in its cities. Set to begin September 16, all vehicles and motorcycles are required to move from the old analogue CMR to new digital BCMR system.
According to Police PR officer Frank Mba, the new system will reposition the police force to effectively combat terrorism, prevent crimes, apprehend and prosecute offenders.
Mba said: “The decision informing the introduction of the BCMR comes against the backdrop of contemporary security challenges bordering on terrorism, high incidence of car theft, carjacking, kidnappings and other acts of crimes and criminalities in our society. Unlike our hitherto analogue based procedures, the BCMR operates on smart-cards and portable hand-held receiver and is a specially developed technological means of attaching automobile owner’s unique traits and personal data to their vehicles for proper identification and protection purposes.”
The shift from the Central Motor Registry (CMR) to the digital Biometric Central Motor Registration (BCMR) system will be done online, at police commands countrywide and at designated banks. It will cost motorists $21 while cyclists will only pay $9.16.
The BCMR system will help the force tighten its grip against terrorism, kidnapping and car jacking among other crimes. The system can capture and match over20 million fingerprints per second which can then be verified against fingerprints stored at registration.
BCMR could also grab still images from CCTV cameras being installed in cities in the country and the footage could be used to apprehend suspected criminals.