Nigeria’s Tinted-Glass Permit Policy

 

-Special Report-

Legal Showdown Over Nigeria’s Tinted-Glass Permit Policy

In a bold legal move, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a public interest lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, challenging the legality of the reintroduced tinted-glass permit policy.

The suit, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 2, 2025, is titled The Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. The Inspector General of Police & Anor (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025). 

Although the case is yet to be assigned to a judge, the NBA has called for an immediate suspension of enforcement pending judicial review.

The controversial policy, first announced in April 2025, mandates that motorists with tinted windows obtain annual permits through a digital portal operated by a private vendor. Originally slated for enforcement on June 1, the directive was postponed to October 2 following widespread public backlash.

At its National Executive Council meeting in Enugu on August 23, the NBA unanimously condemned the policy, raising concerns about its legal foundation and the transparency of its implementation.

Professor Paul Ananaba (SAN), Chairman of the NBA’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), revealed that the permit portal - possap.gov.ng, is managed by Parkway Projects, a private company. He further disclosed that fees collected through the portal are being paid into a private account rather than the Federation Account or Treasury Single Account, raising serious questions about accountability and financial propriety.

Despite the enforcement date being weeks away, reports have emerged of harassment and extortion by police officers at checkpoints.

The NBA contends that the policy infringes on constitutionally protected rights, including the right to dignity, privacy, freedom of movement, and property ownership.

It also argues that the legal basis for the policy, the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, is a relic of military rule and no longer justifiable in a democratic society.

While the Nigeria Police Force maintains that the initiative is designed to enhance national security and promote transparency, critics argue that the ₦16,000 permit fee is burdensome, especially in the current economic climate. Professor Ananaba emphasized that the NBA will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion, urging the police to respect the rule of law and suspend the policy until the court delivers its judgment.

The reactivation of the tinted-glass permit platform on May 1 reignited longstanding concerns over abuse, extortion, and arbitrary arrests linked to tinted windows.

As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could reshape how regulatory policies are crafted and enforced in Nigeria.