Delta State Government has commenced a clampdown on alleged issuers of fake vehicle particulars, with the apprehension by security agents, of a number of motor licensing officials and their collaborators across the state.

This is in response to reports by road users who had fallen victim to the cartel that specializes in procuring vehicle particulars without adherence to the strict protocol for the registration of vehicles as set up by the Delta State Internal Revenue Service.

It will be recalled that Delta State Government had engaged the services of an ICT-firm, Richfield Technologies Limited, to provide the information technology platform for motor vehicle administration in the state.

Chairman of Delta Inland Revenue Service Sir Monday Onyeme revealed at a strategy session with motor licensing officers across the state yesterday in Warri, that there will be no hiding place for those who had chosen, in his words, “to make themselves enemies of the state by engaging in fraudulent activities aimed at causing recurring revenue loss to the state government.”

Onyeme, who spoke at the event through the Director of Operations in his office, Mr. Felix Ojieh, vowed that the Board will do everything within its powers to ensure that areas of revenue leakages in its operations were plugged, stressing that those responsible would be dismissed from service.

“There are no two ways about this. Delta State Government needs this revenue to deliver on its promises to Deltans. Whoever is stealing government’s money is an enemy of the state and the present state administration will not hesitate to not only dismiss such officer but also ensure that he or she is duly prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others,” he warned.

In his remarks, the managing director of Richfield Technologies Limited, Dr. Peterson explained that the strategy session became necessary to evolve plans to meet government’s target of a substantial increase in road tax through motor vehicle administration in the current year.

He urged motor licensing officers to carry out greater oversight on the activities of their support staff to forestall fraud and other underhand activities.

“While pleading for your cooperation to meet the revenue target set by the government, I encourage you to establish compliance desks in all stations, as well as a central complaints desk to sort out technical issues emanating from the use of Richfield’s platform. This will make for seamless coordination and synergy in this effort,” Peterson told the revenue officers.