Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has declared that fully tinted vehicles pose a grave security threat to Nigeria and announced that the police force will soon commence a nationwide enforcement campaign against illegally tinted vehicles. Disu made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association led by its President, Afam Osigwe, SAN. The IGP’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the Nigeria Police Force and the NBA over the administration and legality of tinted glass permits.
Disu expressed a personal desire to outlaw all tinted vehicles across the country if the decision were solely his to make, citing the prevailing security challenges facing the nation. "I have a different view about it entirely. We have a security situation in the country now. If I have my way, there would be no vehicle that would be tinted in the country. And we are moving towards it," Disu stated. He insisted that fully tinted vehicles are frequently used by kidnappers, armed robbers, and "one-chance" operators, making them a significant security risk.
To underscore his point, the IGP recalled his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, where investigations into "one-chance" syndicates revealed a direct link between tinted vehicles and criminal activity. He disclosed that of the 27 vehicles recovered from such criminal operations, 25 or 26 were fully tinted. "So we got the idea that kidnappers and those doing one chance — in fact, one chance is armed robbery, it's abduction — are tinting their glasses deliberately for that," he said. This evidence, he argued, reinforced the necessity for stricter controls on tinted vehicles.
Disu also criticised the increasing use of extremely dark tints, including on windscreens and rear windows, describing the trend as unacceptable and dangerous for security operations. He noted that such vehicles make it difficult for security operatives to identify occupants during stop-and-search operations, thereby exposing officers to danger. "As police officers and other security agencies on the road, we cannot see you in the vehicle as you approach us. So you are putting the lives of security officers in danger," he warned.
The IGP emphasised that the law permits tinted glass only for individuals with genuine security or medical needs, and even then, the tint should not be so dark as to completely obscure visibility. He stressed that the Nigeria Police Force would not accept fully tinted vehicles and would soon begin enforcement against them. "So we are not going to accept fully tinted vehicles in this country, and we are going to come out at a particular time to start enforcement of it," he declared.
The IGP's strong stance came in response to concerns raised by NBA President Afam Osigwe, who opposed the renewal and commercialisation of tinted glass permits but said the association had no objection to police regulation of their use. Osigwe argued that while the NBA supports police oversight, the process should not be turned into a revenue-generating venture. He questioned the requirement for periodic renewal, insisting that once vehicle details are captured in a database, repeated renewals were unnecessary. The NBA president further said permit administration should not be outsourced to private companies collecting fees on behalf of the police. He, however, stressed that the association supports enforcement against vehicles whose tinted glass completely conceals occupants from security personnel.
The exchange highlights the ongoing friction between the police and the legal body over the tinted glass permit policy. The Nigeria Police Force had earlier suspended nationwide enforcement of the policy on January 1, 2026, following an interim court order restraining its implementation. The FCT Police Command, however, has since commenced enforcement of the ban on tinted vehicles across Abuja, impounding over 30 vehicles for operating with tinted glasses, obscured number plates, and improper registration.
As the police prepare for a nationwide crackdown, the IGP's message is clear: tinted vehicles are a security threat that will no longer be tolerated. The coming enforcement action is expected to target vehicles with excessively dark tints that conceal occupants, in line with the law's provisions. For now, the debate over the balance between security concerns and individual rights continues, but the police chief has made his position unmistakable.
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