The Nigeria Police Force has suspended the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy following the issuance of a court order stopping the exercise.
Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the development during a live interview on a national television programme.
She stated:
“Information reaching me from the office of the PRO is that the order has been received and the enforcement of the tinted permit is now on hold pending the court’s verdict.
“We are waiting for the verdict. We are not against the courts, and we will continue to wait until we get a verdict.”
According to Adeh, the tinted glass policy was introduced primarily for security reasons, not for revenue generation. She noted that criminals had in the past used vehicles with darkened windows to commit crimes, making it difficult for security operatives to identify suspects.
She explained:
“The law was not made by us. We are enforcers. The policy was purely security-driven. Some criminals were using tinted vehicles to commit offences, making it difficult for law enforcement to identify suspects.”
Adeh also addressed allegations that the enforcement was aimed at revenue collection, dismissing claims that payments directed to Parkway Projects, a private company account, were for profit purposes.
The enforcement of the 1992 Decree, which became an Act in 2004, had sparked widespread public criticism. Car owners were required to pay N14,200 annually for the tinted glass permit, a process that many Nigerians described as exploitative and unnecessary.
Thousands of vehicles were impounded across the country in recent weeks as the police intensified enforcement, while several motorists complained about harassment and extortion.
However, a High Court in Delta State last week issued an ex-parte order halting the exercise pending the determination of a substantive suit challenging its legality.
Before the suspension, the Police had claimed they were unaware of the court order. But following fresh communication from the Police Headquarters, enforcement has now been officially suspended nationwide pending judicial review.
A 9am News report gathered that many motorists have welcomed the decision, describing it as a “relief from unnecessary hardship” while urging authorities to review the law to reflect modern realities.
Stay tuned to 9am News Nigeria for more Breaking News, Business News, Sports updates And Entertainment Gists.
