Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has declared that he would completely ban tinted vehicles nationwide if he possessed the unilateral authority to do so, pointing to escalating security threats tied to their usage.
Disu shared these thoughts in Abuja on Tuesday during a meeting with Afam Osigwe, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The discussion followed concerns raised by the NBA leader regarding the commercialization and renewal procedures of tinted glass permits.
“I have a different view about it entirely.
We have a security situation in the country now,” Disu remarked. “If I have my way, there would be no vehicle that would be tinted in the country.
And we are moving towards it.”
The police chief explained that vehicles with darkened windows are heavily utilized by kidnappers, armed robbers, and “one-chance” syndicates, calling the trend a major hazard that demands tighter control.
Reflecting on his previous role as the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Disu noted that investigations into “one-chance” robbery rings frequently implicated heavily tinted automobiles. He revealed that out of 27 vehicles seized from these criminal networks during his tenure, a vast majority featured dark windows, validating the connection between tinted glass and crime.
Disu also expressed concern over drivers who heavily tint their front windscreens and rear glass, calling the practice a hazard for field officers.
He explained that opaque windows prevent law enforcement from seeing inside during routine stop-and-search operations, putting officers at a tactical disadvantage.
The IGP reminded the public that only individuals with verifiable medical or security justifications are legally allowed to use tinted glass, and even then, visibility must not be entirely blocked. He warned that the police force will soon ramp up nationwide crackdowns on unauthorized tinted vehicles.
In his remarks, NBA President Afam Osigwe clarified that while the legal association does not oppose the regulation of tinted window permits, it objects to the system being treated as a moneymaking venture.
Osigwe challenged the requirement for vehicle owners to routinely renew their permits, arguing that once an automobile’s data is logged into a centralized system, recurring renewals become unnecessary.
He further questioned why private entities are being utilized to collect these permit fees on behalf of the police department.
Nevertheless, the NBA president agreed that the association backs enforcement actions against any vehicles where the tinting completely hides the passengers from security personnel.
The friction between the legal body and law enforcement dates back to last December, when the NBA openly criticized the Nigeria Police Force for reviving the enforcement of the previously suspended tinted glass permit policy. The police department had set the enforcement rollout for January 2, 2026, pointing to a spike in vehicular crimes across Nigeria.
