Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a detailed and forceful response to recent public commentary by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, concerning the enforcement and legality of the Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, insisting that the initiative is firmly grounded in law, driven by security imperatives, and not in contempt of any court order.
In a statement released from Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Police described the commentary attributed to the NBA President as containing material misrepresentations capable of misleading the public and undermining confidence in lawful authority. The Force stressed that, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, it has neither acted nor intends to act outside the bounds of the Constitution, extant statutes, or valid orders of courts of competent jurisdiction.
According to the Police, regulation of tinted vehicle glass is not an arbitrary or discretionary policy, but one clearly established by an Act of the National Assembly. The Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, was cited as the primary legal framework, with the Force rejecting suggestions that the law is a relic of military rule. The Act, the statement noted, explicitly empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue permits, while placing a burden on applicants to demonstrate legitimate security or health-related reasons for the use of tinted glass.
The Police emphasised that the policy exists primarily to address public safety concerns, particularly the documented use of obscured vehicles in serious crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism and other violent offences. In the view of the Force, the widespread abuse of heavily tinted vehicles has undermined traffic surveillance, facilitated criminal concealment and weakened intelligence-led policing, making regulation unavoidable in the current security climate.
Responding to allegations that the policy is designed as a revenue-generating venture, the Police rejected the claim outright, stating that the Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating organisation. While acknowledging that funds may accrue incidentally in the discharge of statutory duties, the statement pointed to the Police Act 2020, which expressly recognises the Force’s authority to receive such funds in the course of lawful operations. This, the Police argued, is a settled legal position and does not transform the policy into a commercial enterprise.
The Force further explained that the current automated tint permit process is part of a broader Federal Government initiative approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2022. Known as the Police Specialized Services Automation Project, the scheme operates under a lawful Public-Private Partnership arrangement authorised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission. Through this framework, applications are processed online, subjected to security vetting and approved strictly in line with legal requirements, with administrative fees applied solely to sustaining the technology and data security infrastructure supporting the system.
Addressing claims that payments are made into a private account, the Police described the allegation as false and misleading. Parkway Projects Limited, the Force clarified, is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment services provider engaged as a collection channel in the same manner as other widely used government platforms. What was described as a bank account number, the statement said, is in fact a transaction reference used for reconciliation into designated government channels, not a private account.
On the issue of enforcement, the Police recalled that implementation of the policy had earlier been voluntarily suspended following engagements with the NBA and in response to public appeals. This suspension, the Force stressed, was an act of institutional restraint and goodwill, not the result of any restraining court order. The Police noted that in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025, judgment has been reserved, and in another related matter, an application for interim injunction was refused by a Federal High Court sitting in Warri.
The Force stated that it remains fully cognisant of pending judicial processes and will not take any step capable of undermining court outcomes. Any communication regarding enforcement, it said, was intended as advance public notice for operational planning and remains subject to compliance with subsisting court directives. At the same time, the Police warned that they would not continue to respond to what they described as ignorant or mischievous claims calculated to erode public confidence or promote personal agendas under the guise of advocacy.
The statement also addressed reports of a fresh suit allegedly instituted at a Delta State High Court despite the pendency of related matters, noting that the Police have not been served with any such processes. Upon service, the Force said it would review the action with its legal advisers and respond through lawful means.
In reaffirming its position, the Police argued that only a small percentage of motorists use tinted glass, and that no responsible security institution would allow the safety of the overwhelming majority to be compromised to protect narrow interests, whether elitist or criminal. Nevertheless, the Force assured the public that any lawful enforcement of the policy would be professional, measured and compliant with fundamental rights.
The Inspector-General of Police reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on extortion, harassment or abuse of authority by officers, warning that any personnel found culpable would face severe disciplinary sanctions. Individual misconduct, the statement added, should not be weaponised to malign the institution as a whole.
While recognising the Nigerian Bar Association as an important stakeholder in the justice system, the Police cautioned against public narratives that portray the Force as lawless or acting in bad faith. Such narratives, it concluded, are neither accurate nor helpful at a time when national security challenges require cooperation, responsible discourse and respect for judicial processes.
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