The Nigeria Police Force has insisted that no court order restrains it from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy, dismissing claims to the contrary as a misinterpretation of an existing court ruling.
The police position was made clear on Tuesday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, while responding to questions on the decision by the Nigerian Bar Association to threaten a contempt suit against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The NBA had raised concerns after the police resumed enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy on Monday, following its suspension in October 2025.
Hundeyin explained that the court order frequently cited by critics of the policy did not direct the police to halt enforcement. Rather, he said the court instructed that the status quo at the time of the ruling should be maintained, when enforcement of the policy was already in effect.
According to him, the court specifically declined a request seeking to stop the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy. He stressed that the interpretation being circulated in public discourse does not reflect the substance of the court’s decision.
He said the subsequent suspension of the policy was not compelled by any judicial directive but was the outcome of consultations between the police leadership and the NBA. Hundeyin noted that the Inspector-General of Police, after engaging with the NBA, opted for caution and responsiveness by temporarily suspending enforcement in the interest of public engagement and to allow motorists time to regularise their documentation.
The police spokesperson further clarified that no specific duration was attached to the suspension when it was announced. He said the force had anticipated that the legal process would reach a conclusion within that period, adding that the suspension was introduced to give Nigerians room to comply with the permit requirements while awaiting the outcome of the court case.
Explaining the decision to reinstate enforcement, Hundeyin said the prolonged legal process had created a security gap that criminal elements were increasingly exploiting. He pointed to several incidents in which fully tinted vehicles were allegedly used to perpetrate crimes, making it difficult for law enforcement officers to assess potential threats during routine checks.
He cited a recent incident in Edo State where police officers attempted to stop a fully tinted vehicle, leading to a chase. According to him, when the vehicle was eventually intercepted, the occupants opened fire on the officers, killing an inspector of police. He said the tinted nature of the vehicle prevented officers from seeing the occupants or detecting weapons inside, highlighting the security risks associated with unrestricted use of tinted glass.
Hundeyin maintained that the primary mandate of the police is to protect lives and property and that the force could not ignore a situation where criminals exploit regulatory gaps to carry out violent attacks.
On the threat of contempt proceedings by the NBA, Hundeyin said the police had not been formally served with any court papers. He stated that the force would respond appropriately through its Legal Directorate once any official documents were received, adding that the police would not act on unverified claims.
Addressing concerns over allegations that the tinted glass permit process is revenue-driven, Hundeyin said the current system is fundamentally different from the old manual and paper-based process. He explained that the permit application system is now fully digital and hosted on a secure government platform, designed to protect sensitive personal data.
He noted that the fees charged for the permit are used to maintain the digital infrastructure, including secure databases, biometric systems and cybersecurity tools such as firewalls and encryption certificates. According to him, the system allows applicants, including Nigerians living abroad, to submit biometric data such as fingerprints and facial scans remotely, a process that requires advanced and costly technology.
Hundeyin rejected claims that the policy or its payment process is unlawful, stressing that all necessary approvals were obtained before the system was launched. He added that the official government domain hosting the platform is evidence that the process was duly authorised and ratified by the Federal Government.
He emphasised that the objective of the policy is not revenue generation but public safety, insisting that the regulation of tinted glass vehicles is essential to improving security and reducing the ability of criminals to operate undetected on Nigerian roads.
The police said enforcement of the policy would continue nationwide, while urging motorists to comply with the permit requirements in order to avoid sanctions and contribute to overall public safety.
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