From September 16, the Nigeria Police will change the process of vehicle registration from the analogue Central Motor Registry to a digital Biometric Central Motor Registration system.

According to CEOAFRICA.com correspondent, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, while addressing journalist at a news conference in Abuja, said the BCMR is a technological means of attaching automobile owner’s personal data to his or her vehicle for proper identification and protection.

Mr. Frank Mba further explained that the new system was part of efforts in repositioning the police to effectively tackle crimes and terror. Under the system, hand-held machine would be used to verify the particulars of vehicles, rather than manual checking.

“To effectively combat terrorism, prevent crimes, apprehend and prosecute offenders, the force will from September 16, change the registration process of vehicles from the old analogue CMR to new digital BCMR system. The decision informing the introduction of the BCMR is against the backdrop of contemporary security challenges bordering on terrorism, high incidence of car theft, kidnapping and other crimes.’’

Mba said that the system was designed for forensic analysis where fingerprints could be matched or verified against registered fingerprints collected during the registration.

He also said that the database would be made available to other sister security agencies.

“We are going to make the database open to our sister agencies. If for example other security organisations want to carry investigation and they needed to get information from our database, we will make the information available to them,’’ he said.

The new system, according to Frank Mba, is capable of capturing 20 million fingerprints per second, an equivalent of two million people at 10 prints per person.

“As a store of information, it will provide a one-stop forensic base for all manner of investigations which will greatly enhance policing in tracking missing cars and preventing crimes,’’ he said.

It was gathered that the registration for BCMR could be done at designated banks, online and police commands across the nation, as motorists are expected to pay N3,500 to register their vehicles under the system, while owners of tricycles  and motorcycles  would pay N1,500  for the registration.

While making further clarification, the spokesman said that the BCMR was not a duplication of the registration being done by the FRSC but complementing the commission. Substantial equipment had been procured for the system as personnel have been adequately trained to handle it.

He also said no deadline has been issued for now, “We will  not give a deadline for compliance, but the Police has begun aggressive sensitisation on the need for motorists to migrate from the analogue CMR to the BCMR.

 “First of all, we want to encourage new car owners to register their vehicles under the new BCMR, instead of the CMR. We are also encouraging old car owners to migrate to BCMR not just for national security but for the safety of their vehicles,’’ Mba advised.