Stop Guessing let’s settle it today.
Everyday on major roads and cities one officer stops you. Tomorrow another one stops you.
Next tomorrow, one new uniform you’ve never seen before appears and says:
“Show me your driver’s licence!”
Relax. Let me break it down for you
Not everybody wearing uniform has the power to check your driver’s licence. The law is clear. The powers are different. Let’s settle this matter once and for all.
🥢 FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corps)
These ones have full legal power to check:
✔ Driver’s licence
✔ Vehicle documents
✔ Safety compliance
✔ Number plates
✔ Roadworthiness
✔ Speed violations
They enforce federal traffic laws. They can stop you, inspect your papers, and issue fines.
What they CANNOT do:
✔️They cannot impound your vehicle for personal reasons
✔️They cannot demand bribe
✔️They cannot forcefully seize your keys
✔️They cannot arrest you for non-criminal matters
Their job is road safety not harassment.
🥢 VIO (Vehicle Inspection Office)
These ones focus on the car itself, not you. Their job is mechanical inspection:
✔ Roadworthiness
✔ Vehicle condition
✔ Emissions
✔ Testing vehicles before issuing roadworthiness certificates
They CAN check vehicle documents related to the car’s health BUT they cannot stop you on federal highways. Their power is mostly within states and here’s the part most people don’t know, they do NOT have legal authority to demand your driver’s licence on public roads. Driver’s licence is not their jurisdiction.
What they CANNOT do:
✔️They cannot chase your vehicle
✔️They cannot stand on highways checking licences
✔️They cannot demand unrelated documents
✔️They cannot threaten arrest
They are inspectors not law enforcement.
🥢 NIGERIA POLICE FORCE
Police can legally:
✔ Request driver’s licence
✔ Check your identity
✔ Verify vehicle ownership
✔ Investigate stolen vehicles
✔ Enforce criminal offences on the road
Because driver’s licence is a means of identification, and police handle law enforcement generally.
But what they CANNOT do:
✔️ They cannot impose traffic fines
✔️ They cannot ask for money
✔️ They cannot seize your phone because of traffic stop
✔️ They cannot force you out of the car without cause
✔️They cannot impound your vehicle except for criminal suspicion
Their job is security not roadside extortion.
The Simple Summary (Save This):
🥢 FRSC → CAN check driver’s licence
🥢 Police → CAN check driver’s licence
🥢 VIO → CANNOT check driver’s licence
