The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rejected 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, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police are not a revenue-generating agency, stressing that the policy is strictly grounded in existing laws and national security considerations.
The response followed comments by NBA President, Afam Osigwe, who criticised the enforcement of the policy, describing it as “executive recklessness” and alleging that the police operate a revenue-driven system.
Hundeyin explained that the policy derives its authority from the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
He noted that Section 2(3)(a) of the Act empowers the Inspector-General of Police to issue tinted glass permits, while Section 1(2) requires applicants to provide valid security or health-related reasons.
He described claims that the policy was introduced to raise funds as misleading, adding that Section 26(1)(f) of the Police Act 2020 allows the force to receive funds incidental to carrying out its statutory duties.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that the Police Specialist Services Automation Project, approved by the Federal Government in July 2022, was designed to modernise police operations and strengthen national security.
He said the initiative is being implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) in line with 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 used solely to maintain the technology and data systems supporting the process.
He also dismissed allegations that payments are diverted into private accounts, clarifying that Parkway Projects Limited is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment service provider officially engaged by the Federal Government.
Hundeyin noted that the misuse of heavily tinted vehicles has aided criminal activities such as kidnapping and armed robbery and has hindered effective surveillance.
He clarified that the earlier suspension of enforcement followed consultations with the NBA and was not the result of any court order, adding that a Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, recently declined a request for an interim injunction against enforcement.
The police assured the public that enforcement would be conducted professionally and in line with citizens’ rights, warning that any officer found guilty of extortion or abuse of authority would face disciplinary action.