The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has strongly defended its Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, insisting that the initiative is firmly grounded in law, driven by public safety concerns, and not intended as a revenue-generating scheme.
In a press statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police responded to recent public comments credited to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, describing some of the claims as misleading and based on misrepresentation of facts.
According to the Police, 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—not a military decree. The statement noted that the law empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits to applicants who can show legitimate health or security-related reasons.
The Force stressed that the policy is primarily a security measure aimed at curbing crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and other violent offences, which are often facilitated through the use of heavily tinted vehicles.
Reacting to allegations that the policy is revenue-driven, the NPF maintained that it is not a revenue-generating organisation. While acknowledging that administrative fees are paid during the permit application process, the Police explained that such fees are legally recognised under the Police Act, 2020, and are used solely to sustain the technology and infrastructure supporting the automated permit system.
The Police further clarified that the automated tinted glass permit platform was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in July 2022 under the Police Specialized Services Automation Project and is implemented through a lawful Public-Private Partnership arrangement authorised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Addressing claims that payments are made into private accounts, the Force described the allegation as false, explaining that Parkway Projects Limited, mentioned in the controversy, is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment service provider engaged by the Federal Government, similar to other recognised payment platforms.
The Police noted that transaction reference numbers cited in public commentary are not private bank accounts but standard payment identifiers.
On enforcement, the Police disclosed that earlier suspension of the policy was a voluntary decision taken in response to stakeholder engagements and public appeals, not as a result of any court order. The Force added that no court has issued a restraining order against it, and that an application for interim injunction on the matter was refused by a Federal High Court sitting in Warri.
While acknowledging that some matters relating to the policy are still before the courts, the NPF assured that it would not take any action capable of undermining judicial processes and would comply fully with any subsisting court directives.
The Police also reaffirmed that enforcement of the policy, where lawfully undertaken, would be professional and rights-compliant, warning that extortion, harassment, or abuse by officers would attract severe disciplinary sanctions.
Reiterating its commitment to the rule of law, transparency, and protection of fundamental rights, the Nigeria Police Force called for calm and responsible public discourse, urging all stakeholders to respect judicial processes as the courts determine the issues surrounding the tinted glass permit policy.
