“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.”
By Richard Ibu, News/Comments
The Police has defended its action over the restriction of the tinted-glass permit policy, reechoing the legality behind it. This is in response to the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), challenging the Force. Recall that the NBA had filed a suit at the Federal High Court challenging the Inspector-General of Police’s power , saying the directive is unlawful and infringes fundamental rights.
The Association, during its pre-conference National Executive Council meeting in Enugu on August 23,had condemned and agreed to test the policy occasioned by the IG, Kayode Egbetokun, in April 2025.
The police in its initial arrangement was to start enforcement of the police on June 1 but later extended to October 2, while advising motorists to obtain annual permits for tinted vehicle glass through a digital portal.
Prompted by this action, the Chairman, Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN), the NBA said it was informed that permit fees are being paid into a private account, raising transparency and accountability concerns and has decided to seek legal action:. “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 alleged that although enforcement of the policy has not started, “there have been several reported cases of harassment and extortion of citizens by the policemen in checkpoint duty on the basis of this same policy.”
Recall that Punch Newspaper had reported however that the body alleged that permit payments are being routed into a private account belonging to Parkway Projects rather than into the Federation Account or the Treasury Single Account, arguing that the directive violates constitutionally guaranteed rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of movement and property. It also questioned the legal basis for the initiative, noting that it appears to rely on the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act, a 1991 military decree, which the NBA says may not meet the constitutional standard of being “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.” Acting through SPIDEL, the NBA filed a public interest suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, September 2, 2025.
The case is captioned ‘The Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. The Inspector General of Police & Anor (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025)..
Meanwhile, in a press release yesterday by the Force Headquarters through its Public Relations officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said that, IGP Egbetokun is empowered by the law to grant permit, while stressing what the force described as misleading statement by the NBA:
“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.”
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