Have you ever wondered what the different codes on the plate numbers of vehicles in Nigeria mean? Also, did you know that there are different types of plate numbers that signify the vehicle owner’s class? You’ll learn all about it in this article, but first, here are some basic facts about Nigerian plate numbers.

They are issued only by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

The FRSC is an independent federal agency responsible for producing and issuing number plates in Nigeria; it also has a database to keep records of all registered vehicles in Nigeria. And to make the process of number plate collection more manageable, the agency has approved centres for number plate collection in all 36 states. 

You can use any state’s plate number for your vehicles

You can use any state’s number plate for your vehicle, as no law restricts you to your state of residence or origin. However, the registration price for these plate numbers differs from state to state. 

We use the American format

Our licence plate numbers, formally introduced in 1992, are based on and similar in shape and size to those in the United States. Other African countries use the European plate number format while Nigeria and Liberia are the only African countries that use the North American format. 

Our number plates in Nigeria typically look like “ABC-324DE”; What do these abbreviations and numbers represent? 

What’s the meaning of the codes on your number plates? 

The first three letters on your number plate stand for the Local Government Area (LGA) where the vehicle registration was done, and the last two letters following the three digits are there for numbering purposes. 

There are 774 LGAs in Nigeria, so we’ll be unable to cover all the plate number abbreviations across the 36 states, but here are some common ones and the LGAs they represent: 

Abuja:

Abbreviation	LGA
ABC	Abuja Municipal Council
BWR	Bwari Area Council
KWR	Kwali Area Council
RSH	Karshi Area Council

Lagos:

Abbreviation	LGA
AAA	Lagos Island LG
AGL	Ajeromi Ifelodun
SMK	Somolu
JJJ	Ojo
FKJ	Ifako Ijaiye
AKD	Ibeju Lekki
EKY	Eti-Osa LG
GGE	Agege
LSR	Surulere
BDG	Badagry

Rivers:

Abbreviation	LGA
ABM	Akukutoru
BNY	Bonny
PBT	Opobo/Nkoro
NCH	Eleme
NDN	Andoni

Also, another thing you might have noticed is that plate numbers in Nigeria have different colours, and this is because we have several types of plate numbers in Nigeria. They are: 

Private number plates

These are the most common types of plate numbers in Nigeria, as they’re used by private vehicles for personal transportation. These plates have a white background with blue letters and numbers.

Special number plates

These number plates, also called customised plates, are usually used by most Nigerian celebrities and famous people. Although it also has a white background and blue lettering, car owners can write what they want on their number plates; obscene or offensive words aren’t allowed.

Commercial number plates

These plate numbers are reserved for commercial vehicles transporting people or goods. These vehicles include school buses, taxis, mass transit buses, fire trucks, construction vehicles, and cargo vans. The red lettering on a white background distinguishes this plate number. 

Armed Forces/Paramilitary number plates

The black letters on a white background make these number plates simple to identify. They are used by only members of the armed forces, i.e., the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, and paramilitary. 

Government number plates

As the name suggests, these number plates are reserved for public office holders such as the president, governor, and other lawmakers. It’s identified by green lettering on a white background, and the number usually starts with “FG”, signifying that it’s a government vehicle.

The temporary number plates

Temporary number plates are issued when a vehicle is newly purchased to indicate that it was sold legally, and in this case, the plate number would be marked by “DLA”. Temporary number plates are also issued when the original number is missing or lost. An application must be submitted to FRSC with an affidavit and a police report before issuance. These types of plate numbers have white lettering on a black background.  

Diplomatic number plates

These number plates are of three types:

• Corps diplomatique number plates: issued to ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives It is distinguishable by its white lettering on a neon purple background.

• The Corps Consulate number plates are distinctive due to their white lettering on a brown background, and they are only available to the consular corps of embassies in Nigeria.

• The Corps Technique number plates: an easy way to identify these number plates is that they have white lettering on a navy blue background. 

Also read: What Are the Different Types of Nigerian International Passports?