The Nigeria Police Force has defended the enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, insisting it is firmly rooted in law, driven by public safety concerns, and not 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 comments credited to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, which questioned the legality and intent of the policy.
The Force reaffirmed that it operates strictly within the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, extant laws and valid court orders, stressing that it has neither acted nor intends to act in contempt of court under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
According to the statement, the regulation of tinted glass vehicles is backed by the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, an Act of the National Assembly, and not a military decree as alleged. The Act empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits, subject to applicants providing valid security or health-related justifications.
The Police noted that the policy was introduced to address security threats, including the use of heavily tinted vehicles in crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism.
The Force also dismissed claims that the policy is revenue-driven, stating that the Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating agency. It explained that while the Police are legally permitted to receive funds incidental to their statutory duties, fees associated with the tinted glass permit are strictly for administrative and operational purposes.
On the automation of the permit process, the Police disclosed that the Federal Government approved the Police Specialized Services Automation Project in July 2022 through the Federal Executive Council. The initiative, implemented under a lawful Public-Private Partnership arrangement, enables online applications, security vetting and standardised approvals nationwide.
The statement further clarified that allegations of payments being made into a private account operated by Parkway Projects Limited were false. Parkway Projects, the Police said, is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment service provider engaged by the Federal Government, similar to platforms such as Remita. Transaction reference numbers, it explained, are not private bank accounts but payment identifiers used for reconciliation.
The Force recalled that enforcement of the policy was earlier suspended voluntarily following engagements with the NBA and public appeals, stressing that the suspension was not due to any court order. It added that no court has issued a restraining order against the Police, noting that an application for interim injunction was refused by the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, while judgment is still pending in related cases.
While assuring Nigerians that enforcement will be professional, measured and rights-compliant, the Inspector-General warned that extortion, harassment or abuse of authority by officers would attract severe disciplinary sanctions.
The Police called for calm and responsible public discourse, urging respect for judicial processes, and reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism, transparency and the protection of lives and property across the country.
