Court Halts Police Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement
A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo in a suit challenging the legality of the reintroduced tinted glass permit.
The suit, filed by lawyer John Aikpokpo-Martins, argues that the police acted beyond the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act of 1991, which only allows permits for “good cause” such as health or security needs.
He contends the blanket enforcement violates motorists’ rights to privacy and free movement while enabling harassment by security agents.
The police revived the policy through its POSSAP digital platform, citing public complaints and security risks. Official enforcement began in June 2025 after a grace period, later extended twice to October. The police defend the scheme as lawful and necessary, saying criminals often use vehicles with opaque glass to evade detection.
Civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have opposed the move. The NBA, in a separate suit, described the framework as unconstitutional and plagued by transparency issues, raising questions over fees, accessibility, and potential abuse on the roads.
With the Warri court’s directive, the enforcement remains in legal limbo, leaving millions of motorists uncertain about compliance and fueling wider debate over the policy’s legitimacy.
