Nigeria Police Force on Friday said the motor vehicle tinted glass permit policy is lawful and designed to protect public safety, dismissing criticisms by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, as misleading.
The police said regulation of tinted glass is not arbitrary, adding that it is based on the Motor Vehicles Prohibition of Tinted Glass Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which it described as an Act of the National Assembly and not a military decree.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police said Section 2(3)(a) of the Act empowers the Inspector General of Police to issue permits, while Section 1(2) requires applicants to show legitimate security or health reasons.
CSP Hundeyin said the framework was aimed at addressing security concerns, noting that obscured vehicles have been used in crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism.
Responding to claims that the policy was meant to generate revenue, he said, “It is therefore incorrect and misleading to portray the policy as a revenue-driven initiative. The Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating organization.”
He added that the Police Act 2020 allows the Force to receive funds incidental to the discharge of its statutory duties and that this position was clear in law.
Hundeyin said the police remained law abiding and respectful of the courts, stressing that the Force had neither acted nor intended to act in contempt of court.
He explained that the Federal Government approved the Police Specialized Services Automation Project in July 2022 under a public private partnership arrangement to automate the tinted glass permit process.
According to him, applications are processed online, subjected to security checks and approved in line with the law, while fees paid by applicants are used to maintain the technology and data systems supporting the process.
The police also denied claims that payments were made into a private account operated by Parkway Projects Limited, describing the allegation as false.
“Parkway Projects Limited is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed Payment Services Provider, engaged by the Federal Government as a payment collection channel for the Vehicle Tint Permit Project, in the same manner as platforms such as Remita,” Hundeyin said.
He added that the number cited as a bank account was only a transaction reference used for payment reconciliation.
The police said enforcement of the policy was earlier suspended voluntarily after engagements with the NBA and public appeals, noting that the decision was not based on any court order.
Hundeyin said no court had issued a restraining order against the Nigeria Police Force on the matter, adding that an application for interim injunction was refused by the Federal High Court sitting in Warri.
He said enforcement, when carried out, would be professional and rights compliant, warning that extortion or abuse of authority by officers would not be tolerated.
The police also said they were aware of reported fresh legal action on the issue and would respond appropriately when served.
Benjamin Hundeyin said the Force remained committed to professionalism, transparency and the protection of lives and property, while calling for calm public discourse and respect for ongoing judicial processes.
