Nigerian Police Suspend Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement Following Court Order

ABUJA, NIGERIA—The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the immediate suspension of its nationwide enforcement of vehicle tinted glass permits, citing a recent court order that halted the exercise.

The suspension, confirmed by the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, comes days after a Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, issued an interim injunction against the policy.

The court order, delivered in the case of Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 filed by legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the NPF, instructed the police to “maintain the status quo and respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.”

SP Adeh explained that the police received the official court order, prompting the directive to suspend enforcement operations across the country.

"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," Adeh stated. "We are waiting for the verdict. We are not against the courts, and we will continue to wait until we get a verdict."

Policy Rationale and Public Backlash

The compulsory permit scheme, which was initially scheduled for full enforcement on October 2, 2025, required motorists to obtain an annual permit through a digital portal, even for vehicles with factory-fitted tinted windows.

The NPF had defended the policy as a necessary security measure, citing the use of tinted vehicles in violent crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery.

However, the policy was met with significant public criticism and legal challenges. Motorists and rights groups, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), argued that the enforcement was unlawful, exploitative, and violated citizens' fundamental rights. Critics also raised concerns about the policy's foundation, pointing out that it is based on the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act of 1991, a military decree they argue may contradict the 1999 Constitution.

The suspension has been met with relief and a measure of jubilation by Nigerian motorists, many of whom have expressed fear of harassment and extortion at police checkpoints over the issue. The police maintain that the policy was security-driven and that all revenues generated from the permits are paid into the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), not to the police force.

Enforcement of the tinted glass permit will remain suspended until the substantive legal issues in the case are resolved by the court.