Police rejected NBA’s allegations on tinted glass permits

The Nigeria Police Force has rejected claims by the Nigerian Bar Association that its tinted glass permit policy is aimed at generating revenue, insisting that the policy is grounded in law and designed to safeguard public safety.

The statement was issued in response to comments by Afam Osigwe, NBA president, who described the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy as “executive recklessness” and accused the police of operating a revenue-driven system.

The NPF, through its spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that these claims are incorrect and misleading, stressing that the regulation of vehicle tinted glass is strictly statutory and not discretionary.

Hundeyin said the policy is backed by law, citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

He noted that Section 2(3)(a) of the Act empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits, while Section 1(2) requires applicants to provide legitimate security or health-related reasons.

The Force spokesperson added that Section 26(1)(f) of the Police Act, 2020 permits the Force to receive funds that arise in the course of carrying out its statutory responsibilities.

According to the statement, “At all times, the Nigeria Police Force remains a law-abiding institution operating strictly within the framework of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extant statutes, and valid orders of courts of competent jurisdiction. Under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, the Force has neither acted nor intends to act in contempt of court. Respect for the judiciary and adherence to due process remain non-negotiable pillars of police governance and command responsibility.

“It is therefore incorrect and misleading to portray the policy as a revenue-driven initiative. The Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating organisation.

“In balancing accessibility for legitimate applicants with the imperatives of national security and operational sustainability, the Federal Government approved the Police Specialized Services Automation Project, which received due approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in July 2022. The project is implemented under a lawful Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement authorised by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Act, with the Nigeria Police Force partnering a licensed Information Technology infrastructure provider.

“Under this automated framework, applications for tinted glass permits are processed online, subjected to security vetting, and approved strictly in accordance with law.

Administrative fees paid by applicants are applied solely towards sustaining the technology infrastructure, data security systems and workflow architecture supporting the process. They do not constitute revenue generation by the Nigeria Police Force.”

The statement clarified that the allegation by the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, that payments were made into a “private account” operated by Parkway Projects was entirely false and betrayed either a lack of understanding of payment processing systems or outright mischief calculated to mislead members of the public.

“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.

“The reference number cited as a bank account number of Parkway Projects by the NBA President is not a bank account but a unique transaction identifier used for reconciliation and settlement into designated government channels.”

It further explained that while some motorists may desire tinted glass for privacy, aesthetics or protection from sunlight, the indiscriminate use of heavily tinted vehicles had demonstrably undermined traffic surveillance, facilitated criminal concealment and impeded intelligence-led policing.

“The enhanced Tint Permit System was therefore introduced to standardise applications nationwide, improve vetting and integrate security innovations previously absent from the process, while eliminating bottlenecks and tendencies for extortion associated with the former process. This is part of a series of innovations recently introduced to modernise policing in Nigeria under the current Inspector-General of Police.”

The statement recalled that enforcement of the policy was earlier voluntarily suspended following engagements with NBA leadership and in response to public appeals.

According to it, “This decision was an exercise of institutional restraint and goodwill, not the result of any judicial restraint. The Force remains fully cognisant of pending matters before the courts, including Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025, in which judgment has been reserved, and will not take any step capable of pre-empting or undermining judicial outcomes.

“The recent communication regarding enforcement was intended to provide advance public notice on operational planning, subject always to compliance with subsisting court directives and further guidance from the courts.

“Where any aspect of such communication is capable of misinterpretation, the Nigeria Police Force is open to constructive engagement to ensure clarity, harmony and strict adherence to the law.

“That notwithstanding, the Nigeria Police Force will not expend valuable time responding to ignorant and mischievous claims, especially by persons who have chosen to use malicious attacks on the Police as a launch pad to limelight and fame under the guise of being defenders of the masses.”

The statement added that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reassured Nigerians of the Force’s unyielding commitment to professionalism, transparency, accountability and the protection of fundamental rights, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to safeguard lives and property and will continue to act lawfully, decisively and independently in the best interest of the Nigerian people.