Nigeria Police Halt Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement Following Judicial Order

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced an immediate suspension of its nationwide enforcement of the vehicle tinted glass permit, in compliance with a court order directing a pause on the exercise.

The confirmation came from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Josephine Adeh, during an interview with the African Independent Television (AIT) on Wednesday.

She stated that the police hierarchy received formal notification of the judicial directive, leading to the prompt cessation of the permit regime’s enforcement.

“Information reaching me from the office of the PRO is that the order has been received, and the enforcement of the tinted permit is now on hold pending the court’s verdict,” Adeh stated, emphasizing the Force’s deference to the legal process.

The spokesperson further clarified that the directive to stand down on enforcement will remain in effect until the resolution of the pending litigation concerning the permit’s legality.

“We are waiting for the verdict. We are not against the courts, and we will continue to wait until we get a verdict,” she added.

Addressing widespread public criticism regarding the rationale for the tinted glass policy, SP Adeh reiterated that the regulation was purely a security measure.

She explained that the rule was not initiated by the police but was enforced to curb criminal activities. “The law was not made by us. We are enforcers. The policy was purely security-driven,” she asserted. “Some criminals were using tinted vehicles to commit offences, making it difficult for
law enforcement to identify suspects.”

Furthermore, Adeh sought to dispel public perceptions that the permit scheme was a tool for financial exploitation or a source of revenue generation for the police. She clarified that all fees associated with the tinted glass permits are remitted directly to the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), unequivocally stating that the NPF does not receive the funds.

The suspension provides a temporary reprieve for motorists across the country, who have recently faced a renewed drive by the police to enforce the requirement for a permit for vehicles with darkened windows.

The legal challenge against the policy continues, with the NPF maintaining a status quo position in adherence to the court’s instruction.