By Chief Chidi Ezenwafor, Esq., MCArb, FIMC
Past Secretary, NBA Abuja Branch
- Introduction
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF), pursuant to section 4 of the Police Act 2020, is charged with the prevention and detection of crime, protection of lives and property, and enforcement of laws and regulations. Among its regulatory functions is the issuance of tinted glass permits to vehicle owners who, for reasons of safety, security, or health, require the use of tinted glasses.
Policy Update on Tinted Glass
Recently, the Police introduced a policy requiring yearly renewal of tinted glass permits.
Additionally, Tinted Glass in Nigeria, Police Stop has generated significant controversy within legal and public policy circles.
It raises questions about the legality, appropriateness, and intent behind the policy.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has commendably taken legal steps to challenge this policy.
Many view the policy as arbitrary, burdensome, and inconsistent with the Police’s role as a public service institution.
- Legal Basis for Tinted Glass Regulation
Regulation 66(2) of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012 governs tinted glass, enacted under the Federal Road Safety Commission Act 2007. Specifically, the owner must have a permit from the relevant authority to use tinted glass on Nigerian roads.
This measure aims to enhance security by monitoring and controlling tinted vehicles, preventing exploitation for armed robbery, kidnapping, and trafficking. Thus, Tinted Glass in Nigeria, Police Stop never aimed at revenue.
- The Policy of Yearly Renewal
The Nigerian Police have introduced a requirement that tinted permits be renewed annually, thereby transforming what was originally a one-off clearance process into a recurring financial obligation. This raises critical legal questions:
3.1. Security Justification
3.1. Security Justification. Additionally, Tinted Glass in Nigeria, Police Stop considerations are noted.
Revalidation of Vehicle Permits
There is no statutory provision mandating annual revalidation of permits. Once a vehicle is cleared, there is no material change in its security profile warranting yearly renewal. However, fraud or misrepresentation occurred in the initial application.
3.2. Authority to Impose Renewal
The Police Act 2020 and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) do not empower the Police to impose recurring financial obligations without legislative backing. Any such directive without express statutory authority is ultra vires and liable to be struck down if challenged in court.
3.3. Nature of the Police Force
Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution establishes the Police as a security agency, not a revenue-generating body.
Moreover, the government does not empower the Police to generate or remit revenue.
Tinted Glass in Nigeria, Police Stop is unrelated to their funding.
Instead, funding comes from budgetary allocations through the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
- Revenue-Generation Concerns
The effect of annual renewal is to turn tinted permits into revenue.
Additionally, across Nigeria’s registered vehicles, it could generate over ₦167 billion annually.
Such figures suggest that the Police may be prioritizing revenue generation over their constitutional mandate of ensuring public safety. Additionally, this practice risks undermining public trust in policing. It creates a perception that regulatory powers are being commercialized, thereby weakening the Police’s legitimacy as an impartial enforcement body.
However, this practice may offend section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution. The 1999 Constitution states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
- The Role of the Nigerian Bar Association
The NBA’s intervention in this matter is timely and commendable.
In 2022, the NBA publicly opposed the Police’s policy.
Moreover, as Nigeria’s premier lawyers’ body, the NBA reinforces that government bodies must act lawfully and avoid charges.
Moreover, this advocacy highlights the role of civil society in curbing executive overreach and ensuring accountability within public institutions.
- Conclusion
The Nigerian Police’s policy of requiring yearly renewal of tinted glass permits is inappropriate, legally questionable, and counterproductive.
However, converting the process into an annual, revenue-driven scheme for Tinted Glass in Nigeria, Police Stop is unjustifiable.
It lacks statutory authority.
Policing should not function as a revenue agency.
Moreover, their focus should be on improving intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and community engagement.
The Nigerian Bar Association, under the leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, deserves commendation for its intervention.
Moreover, it supports its resolution to challenge the policy in court.
References1. Newskobo, Nigeria Police Targets Over ₦167 Billion Yearly from Tinted Glass Permits Amid Public Debate (30 May 2025) https://newskobo.com/2025/05/30/nigeria-police-targets-over-167-billion-yearly-from-tinted-glass-permits-amid-public-debate/ accessed 8 September 2025.2. Nigerian Bar Association, Press Release on the Yearly Renewal of Tinted Glass Permits (2022).3. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).4. Police Act 2020.5. National Road Traffic Regulations 2012, Regulation 66(2).6. Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act 2007.