Tinted permit: It’s our mandate to prevent crimes – Police reacts to NBA lawsuit
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has insisted that its tinted-glass permit system is legal, despite a lawsuit filed against it by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
In a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja, Force Spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin described the NBA’s claim that the permit policy is unconstitutional as untrue and misleading.
According to the police, the policy is backed by law.
The statement pointed to Section 2(3a) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, which gives the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) or an authorized officer the power to approve permits.
It also referred to Section 1(2), which requires applicants to provide valid reasons—such as health or security concerns—before approval can be granted.
Explaining the rationale, the Force said: “The essence of this regulation is consistent with the core mandate of the Police to prevent crimes, as the permit is a critical tool for curbing violent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and one chance operations.”
On the issue of fees, Hundeyin clarified that the charges are not illegal but are purely processing fees used to maintain the digital infrastructure behind the system.
He added that this is in line with Sections 26(e) and (f) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, which allow the Police to offer specialised services to the public at a fee.
The statement also highlighted the success of the Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), which has helped trace and recover stolen vehicles nationwide.
Reaffirming his stance, IGP Kayode Egbetokun said the police will remain professional and respect the rights of citizens.
“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates the unflinching commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental rights of all Nigerians,” the statement concluded.
Tinted permit: It’s our mandate to prevent crimes – Police reacts to NBA lawsuit
