The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims suggesting that its tinted glass permit policy lacks legal backing, insisting that the permits are both lawful and necessary for public safety.
The clarification followed a September 5, 2025, media report that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had taken the Inspector-General of Police to court over the issuance of tinted glass permits.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said it was important 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.”
He said Section 2(3a) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004 empowered 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,” Hundeyin said.
According to him, the regulation is consistent with the Police mandate of crime prevention, noting that tinted permits serve as a critical tool in combating violent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and one-chance operations.
Hundeyin further explained that the charges attached to the acquisition of the permit were lawful.
“The charges 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,” he said.
He pointed out that the Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) had already produced “commendable and significant successes, through which numerous stolen vehicles have been traced and recovered across the country.”
On criticisms of the policy, the Police dismissed them as unfounded.
“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,” Hundeyin stressed.
He quoted the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as restating the Force’s commitment to professionalism and transparency.
“The IGP 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,” Hundeyin said.