The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has defended its Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, insisting that the initiative is firmly rooted in law and driven by public safety concerns rather than revenue generation.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police responded to recent comments attributed to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, describing them as misleading and factually incorrect. The Force said it was compelled to clarify the issues in the interest of public order, national security, and institutional integrity.
According to the statement, the regulation of tinted vehicle glass is backed by the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, an Act of the National Assembly. The Police stressed that the law is not a military decree, as alleged, and that it explicitly empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits to applicants who demonstrate legitimate security or health-related needs.
The NPF rejected claims that the policy is a revenue-driven initiative, noting that the Police is not a revenue-generating agency. It explained that while administrative fees are paid during the application process, such payments are permitted under Section 26(1)(f) of the Police Act, 2020, and are used strictly to sustain the technology and infrastructure supporting the automated permit system.
The statement further explained that the current online application process operates under the Police Specialized Services Automation Project, approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2022 and implemented through a lawful Public-Private Partnership arrangement. The Police clarified that Parkway Projects Limited, mentioned in public allegations, is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment service provider, and not a private account operator, adding that transaction references cited by critics are merely payment identifiers.
The Force also addressed concerns over enforcement, stating that earlier suspension of the policy was a voluntary act of goodwill following engagements with stakeholders, including the NBA, and not due to any court order. It disclosed that no court has issued a restraining order against the Police, and that an application for interim injunction was refused by a Federal High Court in Warri, while judgment is awaited in a related Abuja suit.
Emphasising Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges, the Police noted that abuse of tinted vehicles has aided crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and terrorism. It warned that the safety of the majority cannot be compromised to protect the interests of a few motorists.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, assured Nigerians that enforcement of the policy, where lawfully undertaken, would be professional, measured, and compliant with human rights standards. He reiterated that extortion or abuse by officers would not be tolerated, and that any erring personnel would face disciplinary action.
The Nigeria Police Force called for calm, responsible public discourse and respect for judicial processes, while reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, transparency, accountability, and the protection of lives and property across the country.
