…as ABNews uncovers hidden charges already burdening motorists
ABUJA — Nigerians are set to pay more for driver’s licences and vehicle number plates starting Saturday, June 8, following a new price structure approved by the Joint Tax Board (JTB), according to a report by Vanguard News.
The report revealed that under the revised rates, a driver’s licence will now cost ₦15,000 for a three-year validity and ₦21,000 for five years. Tricycle operators will pay ₦7,000 and ₦11,000 respectively, depending on the selected duration. The adjustment applies nationwide and covers both fresh applications and renewals.
Motorists have been advised to confirm the applicable charges with their respective state licensing offices before making payments.
Meanwhile, ABNews gathered that the real cost of obtaining a driver’s licence has long exceeded the official rates. Many Nigerians have reportedly been paying between ₦45,000 and ₦55,000 due to unofficial fees and the activities of middlemen at licensing centres.
“If it was ₦50,000 before when the official fee was lower, only God knows what it will be now with this new increase,” a commercial driver in Lagos State lamented.
The development has sparked widespread concern among motorists, many of whom are calling for government intervention to address extortion and ensure that only the official rates are charged at licensing offices.
ABNews will continue to monitor the situation as Nigerians begin to feel the impact of the new fees.
