The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has strongly defended the Nigeria Police Force’s Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, describing recent criticisms by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, as misleading and based on misrepresentation of the law.
In a press statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police said it was compelled to respond to public commentary on the policy in the interest of public order, national security and institutional clarity.
The police leadership stressed that the regulation of tinted vehicle glass is firmly rooted in law, citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. According to the statement, the Act is a valid legislation of the National Assembly and not a military decree, as earlier suggested by the NBA president.
The Force explained that Section 2(3)(a) of the Act vests the Inspector-General of Police with the authority to issue tinted glass permits, while Section 1(2) requires applicants to provide legitimate security or health-related reasons. It added that the policy was designed to address security threats, noting that heavily tinted vehicles have been linked to crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism.
Reacting to allegations that the permit process is revenue-driven, the police said the Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating organisation. It clarified that while administrative fees are charged, they are applied solely to sustain the technology and security infrastructure used in processing applications, in line with the Police Act, 2020.
The statement further explained that the current automated permit system was approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2022 and implemented through a lawful Public-Private Partnership arrangement. It dismissed claims that payments were made into private accounts, stating that Parkway Projects Limited, mentioned by the NBA president, is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment service provider engaged by the Federal Government, similar to platforms such as Remita.
On ongoing litigation, the police noted that no court has issued an order restraining the Force from enforcing the tinted glass policy. It disclosed that an application for interim injunction was refused by a Federal High Court in Warri and that the earlier suspension of enforcement was a voluntary act to allow stakeholder engagement, not a result of judicial compulsion.
The Force said it remained mindful of pending court cases on the matter and would not take any action capable of undermining judicial processes. However, it maintained that it could not abdicate its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, especially in view of prevailing security challenges.
While assuring that enforcement would be professional and rights-compliant, the IGP warned that extortion, harassment or abuse of authority by officers would attract severe disciplinary measures.
The police also urged calm and responsible public discourse, calling on stakeholders to respect due process as the courts consider the issues. It reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, transparency and the rule of law in the discharge of its duties.
