Police push back on NBA claims: Tinted glass permit policy “grounded in law,” not revenue drive

By Johnson Arua

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed recent criticisms from the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, regarding the Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, insisting that the policy is fully legal, security-driven, and not a revenue-generating scheme.

In a detailed press statement released on Thursday, the Force emphasized its commitment to public safety, judicial authority, and the rule of law. “The regulation of vehicle tinted glass is not a discretionary or arbitrary policy as erroneously put by the President of NBA. It is firmly grounded in law,” the statement read.

The Force clarified that the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation (LFN), 2004, grants the Inspector-General of Police the authority to issue tinted glass permits, provided applicants demonstrate legitimate security or health-related reasons.

The policy, the Force said, exists primarily to prevent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and other violent acts.
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, NPF Force Public Relations Officer, also addressed allegations that payments for permits are directed into a “private account.” He described the claim as “entirely false” and explained that Parkway Projects Limited, the platform handling payments, is a Central Bank-licensed service provider used solely for processing fees that sustain the system’s technology infrastructure. “These are not revenue generation by the Nigeria Police Force,” Hundeyin stressed.

The statement highlighted that the Police Specialized Services Automation Project, approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2022, ensures applications are processed online, vetted for security, and issued in accordance with the law. It also standardizes the process nationwide while eliminating delays and corruption risks associated with previous procedures.

The NPF further reminded the public that enforcement of the tinted glass policy had been voluntarily suspended earlier following discussions with NBA leadership. “This decision was an exercise of institutional restraint and goodwill, not the result of any judicial restraint,” the statement clarified.

Insisting on professionalism, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, reiterated that any officer found guilty of extortion, harassment, or abuse of authority would face severe disciplinary action. “Individual misconduct must not be weaponized to malign the Nigeria Police Force as an institution,” the statement said.

Concluding, the Force urged calm and responsible public discourse, calling for sustained respect for judicial processes as the courts determine the outcomes of related legal matters.

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