The Inspector-General of Police has declared that fully-tinted vehicles will no longer be tolerated on Nigerian roads, with enforcement actions imminent.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Police Force has issued a firm warning against the use of fully-tinted vehicles, citing grave security risks posed to both officers and the public.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by its President, Afam Osigwe, SAN.
“We are facing a serious security situation in this country,” Mr Disu stated. “If I had my way, tinted vehicles would not be permitted on our roads, and we are steadily moving towards that objective.”
The IGP drew upon his experience as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, where a crackdown on ‘one chance’ robbery operations yielded alarming findings.
“When we recovered 27 vehicles used by ‘one chance’ criminals, 26 of them had tinted windows,” he revealed. “This indicates that kidnappers and other criminals deliberately tint their vehicles to facilitate illegal activities.”
Mr Disu expressed particular concern over the trend of tinting windscreens and rear screens, which he described as unacceptable. “This practice exposes police officers and other security personnel to unnecessary danger, as they cannot see the occupants of approaching vehicles,” he explained.
“The law permits tinted glass only for medical or security reasons, and even then, the tint should not be as dark as we currently see on our roads,” the IGP emphasised. “Imported vehicles with factory tints typically have clear front windows—unlike the fully darkened vehicles we see in Nigeria.”
The police chief also addressed the issue of citizens recording officers on duty, warning that such actions could demoralise personnel during a challenging security period.
“Police officers have rights too, and we are prepared to enforce them,” he said. “While we are committed to ending impunity and have dismissed several officers for misconduct, accountability must extend to all members of the public.”
On bail procedures, Mr Disu clarified that sureties must be verifiable individuals with legitimate means of livelihood, adding that women are eligible to stand as sureties—contrary to popular belief.
Earlier, NBA President Afam Osigwe congratulated the IGP on his appointment and identified areas for collaboration. While supporting restrictions on excessively tinted vehicles, Mr Osigwe raised concerns about the renewal requirements for tinted-glass permits.
“We oppose turning tinted-glass approval into a revenue-generating exercise,” he stated. “Approval should not require annual renewal, nor should a private company be collecting fees for this process.”
The NBA boss emphasised the need for synergy between the police, legal profession, and judiciary to build public confidence and ensure a just, secure society.
