The Nigerian Police has defended the issuance of “Tinted permit” insisting that the policy is backed up by law.
The defence of the police was a response to a suit filed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) challenging the tinted glass policy by the police.
The NBA at its pre-AGC conference in Enugu on August 23, 2025 had resolved to challenge the policy insisting that the Nigerian Police was relying on a military decree that cannot stand democratic parametres to promulgate the policy.
The Prof Paul Ananaba (SAN) led Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) had issued a statement notifying the public and the police of the intention of the NBA to challenge the policy.
According to the NBA statement read in part, “In April 2025, the Inspector General of Police purportedly introduced a policy which mandated members of the Nigerian motoring public to apply for and obtain annual motor tinted glass permits from the Nigeria Police Force for a fee.
“The Inspector General of Police in the same month purportedly launched a digital portal (possap.gov.ng) through which the application for tinted glass permits was to be processed.
“We are being informed that the portal and the policy are to be managed by a private vendor, and there is no indication that the funds generated from the enforcement of the purported policy will go into the Federation Account.”
The NBA eventually challenged the policy in a suit, “The Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. The Inspector General of Police & Anor (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025).”
However, in a statement issued by the new spokesman of the police, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin the police insists that the policy is backed by law and has been beneficial to the maintenance of security in Nigeria.
The police statement reads:
“The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is aware of a Punch Newspaper publication of 5th September, 2025 reporting that the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has dragged the Inspector-General of Police to court over tinted-glass permit policy. It is pertinent to set the records straight to avoid misinformation to the good citizens of Nigeria on the legality of the issuance of tinted permits by the Police.
“Section 2(3a) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004 empowers the Inspector-General of Police or any person duly authorised by him to grant or approve the permit. Furthermore, Section 1(2) of the same Act provides that an applicant must show good cause either on health grounds or for security reasons before the use of tinted glass can be approved. The essence of this regulation is consistent with the core mandate of the Police to prevent crimes, as the permit is a critical tool for curbing violent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and one chance operations.
“In the same vein, it is important to clarify that the charges attached to the acquisition of the permit are purely processing fee and for the maintenance of the digital infrastructure deployed for this service. This is well within the law as provided for under Section 26(e) and (f) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, which empowers the Police to render specialised services to the public at a fee.
“It is worthy to put on record that the Force has recorded commendable and significant successes with the Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), through which numerous stolen vehicles have been traced and recovered across the country, a feat made possible by the modernised police specialised services in line with global best practices.
“The Nigeria Police wishes to unequivocally assure the public that the alleged claims by individuals and groups that the tinted permit policy is not legal, transparent and constitutionally valid are not only untrue and misleading but also a calculated attempt to cast aspersions on the image, integrity, and lawful operations of the Force.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, reiterates the unflinching commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental rights of all Nigerians. He further reassures the public of the Force’s steadfast dedication to professionalism, the relentless pursuit of a safer and more secure nation for all and above all, transparency.
