Is it not hypocritical for a government that claims it wants to streamline taxes to establish a committee for that purpose, only to end up with a new tax regime that somehow overlooks the tinted glass permit demanded by the police?
That permit amounts to double taxation, and yet the same government or the committee it set up, failed to flag it. How is that possible?
Since the government embraced information technology, it has sadly become more of a tool for exploiting citizens than improving public services.
Take, for example, the police’s new vehicle database registration. Why should Nigerians be asked to register their vehicles again when the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) already maintains a comprehensive, federal vehicle database?
If the police need access, they can integrate with FRSC or even cross-reference with the National Identity Number (NIN) from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
This is achievable through a simple data-sharing agreement, not by wasting public resources on building yet another bloated, possibly illegal system.
Let’s talk about data duplication in Nigeria.
Every Nigerian has submitted the same personal data repeatedly to government agencies:
🛂 Passport
🪪 National ID (NIN)
🗳️ Voter’s Card
🚘 Driver’s License
🪪 Vehicle License
🏦 Bank Verification Number (BVN)
How many times will we keep giving the same information to different agencies?
Now, the police want to set up a parallel database for something that already exists?
That’s not innovation. That’s wasteful, unnecessary, and deeply troubling. It raises serious questions about the intent, legality, and efficiency of public institutions.
Nigerians deserve better. Technology in governance should mean less stress, fewer costs, and smarter systems, not more scams in the name of policy.
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