The inspector-general of police (IGP), Tunji Disu, says he would prohibit the use of tinted vehicles across Nigeria if he had the power to do so.
Disu made the statement in Abuja on Tuesday while responding to concerns raised by Afam Osigwe, president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), over the renewal and commercialisation of tinted glass permits.
“I have a different view about it entirely. We have a security situation in the country now,” Disu said.
“If I have my way, there would be no vehicle that would be tinted in the country. And we are moving towards it.”
The IGP said tinted vehicles are frequently used by kidnappers, armed robbers and “one-chance” operators, describing them as a security concern.
He stressed that Nigeria’s current security challenges make stricter regulation of tinted vehicles necessary.
Disu recalled that while serving as commissioner of police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), investigations revealed that many vehicles used by “one-chance” gangs were fully tinted.
He added that several of the 27 vehicles recovered from such criminal networks had dark windows, which he said reinforced the link between tinted vehicles and crime.
The police chief also criticised the increasing use of extremely dark tints on windscreens and rear windows, describing the trend as dangerous.
He said such tints make it difficult for security operatives to identify occupants during stop-and-search operations, thereby putting officers at risk.
Disu noted that only persons with genuine medical or security reasons are permitted by law to use tinted glass, and even in such cases, visibility must not be completely obstructed.
He added that the police would soon intensify enforcement against illegally tinted vehicles nationwide.
Earlier, Osigwe said the NBA had no objection to regulation of tinted glass permits but insisted the process should not be turned into a revenue-generating scheme.
He also questioned the need for periodic renewal of permits, arguing that vehicle details should only need to be captured once in a database.
Osigwe further said the police should not outsource permit issuance to private companies collecting fees on their behalf.
He added that the NBA supports action against excessively tinted vehicles that completely conceal occupants from security agencies.
The NBA had earlier criticised the Nigeria Police Force over the reinstatement of enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy.
The police had previously announced that enforcement would resume on January 2, 2026, citing rising vehicle-related crimes.