The Nigeria Police Force says contrary to some claims in some quarters, the tinted glass permit is not a revenue-driven initiative.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, had faulted the planned move by the police as “executive recklessness”.
He described the reactivation of the tinted glass permit enforcement by the Nigeria Police Force as a revenue-generating drive.
However, in a statement on Friday, Force spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin said the tinted glass permit policy is backed by law, citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
He explained that Section 2(3)(a) of the Act authorises the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits, while Section 1(2) requires applicants to present legitimate security or health-related reasons.
Hundeyin described claims that the policy was introduced to generate revenue as misleading, noting that Section 26(1)(f) of the Police Act 2020 allows the police to receive funds arising from the execution of their lawful duties.
The spokesperson said that the Federal Government approved the Police Specialist Services Automation Project in July 2022 to modernise police operations and enhance national security.
According to him, the project is being implemented through a public-private partnership approved under the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Act.
He said the applications for tinted glass permits are processed online and subjected to security screening, with fees applied solely to maintain the technology infrastructure and data systems supporting the service.
The spokesman also refuted allegations that payments are made into private accounts, clarifying that Parkway Projects Limited—referenced by the NBA—is a payment service provider licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and officially engaged by the Federal Government as a collection platform.
Hundeyin noted that the indiscriminate use of heavily tinted vehicles has aided criminal activities such as kidnapping and armed robbery, while also hindering effective traffic monitoring.
He said the enforcement of the policy was previously suspended as a goodwill gesture following discussions with the NBA, and not as a result of any court order. He added that no court has restrained the police from enforcing the policy, pointing out that a recent application for an interim injunction was declined by a Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State.
The police spokesperson assured the public that enforcement would be carried out professionally and with respect for citizens’ rights, warning that any officer found engaging in extortion or abuse of authority would be sanctioned.
