WITH just 48 hours left before the August 12 deadline for obtaining or regularising tinted glass permits, the Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue clear enforcement guidelines—leaving motorists anxious, suspicious, and in the dark.
The current wave of concern began on May 1, 2025, when the police reactivated their digital tinted glass permit platform after years of complaints over abuse, extortion, and arbitrary arrests linked to tinted windows.
The system, according to the Force, was designed to promote transparency, streamline applications, and strengthen national security, particularly in curbing crimes where tinted vehicles are used to conceal identities.
To encourage compliance, the police initially gave a 30-day grace period starting May 1. Force spokesperson ACP Muyiwa Adejobi assured at the time that while enforcement would follow the grace period, any officer caught engaging in harassment or extortion would be punished.
However, widespread complaints—especially from rural motorists and those without internet access—prompted the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to extend the grace period to August 12, promising a “citizen-friendly” approach.
Now, with the deadline just days away, the police’s silence on whether there will be immediate enforcement, further extensions, or a phased rollout is fuelling fears of a crackdown.
“We will speak on it soon,” Adejobi told Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, but as of press time, no official statement had been released.
Motorists are increasingly vocal about their concerns.
Jamiu Azeez, a private car owner, accused the police of creating “unnecessary panic.”
“They should be sending reminders, not keeping people in suspense. We all know how the police can be—they might use this as an opportunity to extort money. My advice is: get the permit now to avoid trouble.”
Samuel, a commercial driver, said he had been deliberately avoiding police checkpoints.
“We don’t know if they’ll extend it again or start arrests immediately. And why should we pay for something that came with the car? It should be part of normal registration.”
Wale Daniel said he planned to remove his factory-installed tint altogether.
“If I don’t remove it, the police will disturb me. I have no special use for it—it came with the car.”
Oladimeji Armstrong blasted the policy as “unfriendly” amid Nigeria’s economic crisis.
“N16,000 for a permit is wickedness. People can barely feed or fuel their cars. This won’t solve insecurity; it’s just another way to rip people off.”
In Kano, Lukman Ibrahim argued the police were focusing on the wrong priorities.
“Criminals are ravaging the country, but they’re chasing tinted permits. A terrorist doesn’t need a tinted car to strike.”
For many Nigerians, the issue isn’t just about compliance, it’s about trust. Decades of heavy-handed roadside enforcement have left motorists wary of any initiative that grants police new grounds to stop vehicles. Without clear, timely communication from authorities, fears of arbitrary enforcement and extortion are only growing.
Whether August 12 brings a coordinated enforcement drive, another extension, or complete policy silence, one thing is clear: motorists across the country are bracing for impact.