By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, on Tuesday in Abuja said he would ban tinted vehicles across Nigeria if he had the authority to do so. He made the statement while responding to concerns raised by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Afam Osigwe during a discussion on the regulation and renewal of tinted glass permits. According to the IGP, criminals frequently use tinted vehicles to commit crimes, making them a significant security challenge.
Criminals Exploit Tinted Vehicles
Disu explained that kidnappers, armed robbers, and operators of “one-chance” robbery gangs often use heavily tinted vehicles to conceal their identities.
He recalled his experience as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). During that period, investigations showed that many vehicles linked to criminal activities had darkened windows.
The IGP revealed that a large number of the 27 vehicles recovered from “one-chance” syndicates were fully tinted. Consequently, he believes stricter regulation is necessary to improve public safety.
“If I have my way, there would be no vehicle that would be tinted in the country,” Disu said.
Heavily Tinted Vehicles Endanger Security Operations
Furthermore, Disu expressed concern over the growing use of extremely dark tints on windscreens and rear windows.
According to him, such vehicles make it difficult for security personnel to identify occupants during stop-and-search operations. As a result, officers face greater risks while carrying out their duties.
The IGP stressed that Nigeria’s current security situation requires stronger measures to monitor vehicle usage.
NBA Opposes Commercialisation of Permit Process
Meanwhile, NBA President Afam Osigwe said the association supports the regulation of tinted glass permits. However, he argued that authorities should not turn the process into a revenue-generating venture.
Osigwe questioned the need for vehicle owners to renew permits repeatedly. He maintained that once authorities store vehicle details in a reliable database, continuous renewals become unnecessary.
In addition, he criticised the involvement of private companies in collecting permit fees on behalf of the police.
NBA Supports Enforcement Against Illegal Tints
Despite his concerns, Osigwe clarified that the NBA supports enforcement against vehicles with tints that completely obscure occupants from security officials.
He noted that security agencies must retain the ability to identify individuals inside vehicles when necessary.
Police Set to Intensify Enforcement
Last December, the NBA criticised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) after it announced plans to reactivate enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy.
The police later confirmed that enforcement would resume on January 2, 2026, citing a rise in vehicle-related crimes nationwide.
The IGP reiterated that only individuals with genuine medical or security reasons may legally use tinted glass. Even then, he said visibility must not be completely blocked.
He added that the police would soon intensify enforcement against illegally tinted vehicles across the country.
