The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that the enforcement of the motor vehicle tinted glass permit policy is aimed at generating revenue.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police are not a revenue-generating agency, but are legally empowered to receive funds incidental to the performance of their statutory duties.
The statement was a response to remarks by the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, who described the enforcement of the policy as “executive recklessness” and accused the police of operating a revenue-driven system.
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.
He 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 added that the Federal Government approved the Police Specialist Services Automation Project in July 2022 to modernise police operations and enhance national security. He said the project is being implemented through a public-private partnership approved under the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Act.
According to Hundeyin, 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.
He 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.
