A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to maintain the status quo in a suit challenging the legality of the recently revived tinted glass permit enforcement.
The case was filed by lawyer John Aikpokpo-Martins, who argues that the police may have exceeded their legal authority in reintroducing the policy.
The tinted permit scheme was reactivated earlier in 2025 through the Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP), following widespread complaints of motorists being harassed over factory-fitted tinted windows. The police began full enforcement in June after a 30-day grace period, later extending deadlines first to August and then to October to give motorists additional time to comply.
According to the police, the renewed enforcement is justified on security grounds. They contend that vehicles with opaque or darkened glass are often exploited by criminals to avoid detection and facilitate illegal activities.
However, the legal challenge raises questions about whether the Police acted within the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act of 1991. That law stipulates that permits should only be granted for valid reasons, such as medical or security needs. Aikpokpo-Martins and other critics argue that the blanket enforcement unfairly targets ordinary motorists, infringes on constitutional rights to privacy and freedom of movement, and creates further avenues for harassment by security agents.
Civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have also expressed concern. The NBA has filed a separate suit, insisting that the enforcement framework is unconstitutional, lacks transparency, and opens the door to abuse. Issues highlighted include the handling of fees, accessibility of the application process, and the risk of arbitrary conduct by officers on patrol.
While the police continue to insist that the policy is lawful and necessary for national security, the Warri court’s directive reflects growing legal and public resistance. Until the pending suits are resolved, the implementation of the tinted glass permit remains uncertain — leaving millions of Nigerian motorists in limbo over compliance and the legitimacy of the policy.
