By Joy Yesufu
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has defended its Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, insisting that the regulation is firmly rooted in law, driven by national security considerations, and not a revenue-generating initiative, contrary to recent claims by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe.
A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hudeyin said the Force was compelled to clarify the facts amid what it described as “misrepresentations” regarding the legal basis and implementation of the policy.
The police stressed that regulation of tinted vehicle glass is backed by the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, an Act of the National Assembly, not a military decree, as alleged.
According to the Force, Section 2(3)(a) of the Act empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits, while Section 1(2) requires applicants to provide valid health or security justifications.
The NPF explained that the policy is aimed at addressing serious security threats, noting that heavily tinted vehicles have been repeatedly linked to crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and violent attacks.
“It is incorrect to portray the tinted glass permit policy as arbitrary or revenue-driven,” the statement said, adding that the police are not a revenue-generating agency, although the law permits the Force to receive funds incidental to its statutory duties under Section 26(1)(f) of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended).
The Force also clarified the Police Specialized Services Automation Project, approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2022, under which the tinted glass permit process was digitised.
Under the system, applications are submitted online, subjected to security vetting, and processed through an automated platform operated under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement authorised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Administrative fees, the police said, are used strictly to maintain the technology infrastructure and data security systems supporting the permit process and do not constitute revenue for the Force.
Reacting to allegations that payments are made into private accounts, the NPF described such claims as false, explaining that Parkway Projects Limited is a Central Bank of Nigeria licensed payment service provider, similar to platforms such as Remita.
The Force noted that the numbers cited as “private accounts” are transaction reference identifiers used for reconciliation into government-approved channels, not private bank accounts.
While acknowledging that some motorists seek tinted glass for privacy or protection from sunlight, the police warned that indiscriminate use undermines surveillance, aids criminal concealment, and hampers intelligence-led policing.
The NPF recalled that enforcement of the policy was earlier suspended voluntarily following engagements with the NBA and other stakeholders, describing the move as an act of institutional restraint not compliance with any court order.
According to the statement, no court has issued a restraining order against the Force on the matter, and an application for interim injunction was reportedly refused by a Federal High Court sitting in Warri.
The police said they remain mindful of pending cases and will comply fully with judicial outcomes.
The Force assured Nigerians that any lawful enforcement of the policy would be professional and rights-compliant, warning that extortion, harassment, or abuse by officers would attract severe disciplinary action.
However, it cautioned against what it described as attempts to malign the institution based on individual misconduct or to frame public advocacy around narrow or elitist interests.
“The security of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians cannot be compromised to protect the interests of a few,” the statement said.
