BY SNDAY SAMEL—The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has defended its Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, dismissing criticisms attributed to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, and reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law, public safety, and due process.
In a statement, by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) for the Nigeria Police Force CSP, Benjamin Hundeyin, said it was necessary to clarify the legal basis of the policy and correct what it described as material misrepresentations, stressing that it operates strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, extant laws, and valid court orders.
The NPF подчеркed that the regulation of tinted vehicle glass is firmly rooted in law, citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, LFN 2004, an Act of the National Assembly. According to the police, the law empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits and requires applicants to provide valid security or health-related reasons. The Force noted that the policy is aimed at addressing security concerns, including the use of obscured vehicles in crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and terrorism.
The police also rejected claims that the policy is revenue-driven, stating that it is not a revenue-generating agency. While acknowledging that administrative fees are collected in the course of its statutory duties, the Force explained that such collections are authorised under the Police Act, 2020, and are incidental to service delivery.
On the automation of the permit process, the NPF said the Federal Executive Council approved the Police Specialized Services Automation Project in July 2022 under a lawful Public-Private Partnership arrangement. The online system, it explained, is designed to standardise applications nationwide, enhance security vetting, reduce bottlenecks, and curb extortion associated with the previous manual process. Fees paid by applicants, the Force said, are used solely to maintain the technology and infrastructure supporting the system.
The police further dismissed allegations that payments are made into private accounts, clarifying that Parkway Projects Limited, mentioned in the claims, is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment service provider engaged as a collection platform, similar to other government-approved payment gateways. Transaction references cited, it added, are not private bank accounts but payment identifiers used for reconciliation.
Addressing enforcement, the NPF said the earlier suspension of the policy followed consultations with stakeholders, including the NBA, and was an act of goodwill rather than the result of a court order. The Force stated that no court has issued a restraining order against enforcement, noting that an application for interim injunction was refused by a Federal High Court in Warri. It added that while some cases remain pending before the courts, it would not take any action capable of undermining judicial processes.
The police stressed that only a small proportion of motorists use tinted glass and that national security considerations outweigh the interests of a few individuals. It assured the public that enforcement, where carried out, would be professional and rights-compliant, warning that any officer found guilty of extortion or abuse of authority would face disciplinary action.
Reiterating its respect for the judiciary and the NBA as a key stakeholder in the justice system, the Nigeria Police Force called for responsible public discourse and urged Nigerians to remain calm as the courts consider the pending legal matters.
