With just two days to go before the August 12 deadline for motorists to obtain or update their tinted glass permits, the Nigeria Police Force has yet to clarify how it intends to enforce the directive, leaving vehicle owners anxious.
The enforcement push began on May 1, 2025, when the police reactivated their digital tinted glass permit platform, citing the need to curb crimes involving vehicles with obscured occupants. A 30-day grace period was initially announced, with Force PRO ACP Muyiwa Adejobi warning officers against harassment or extortion during enforcement.
Following complaints over accessibility and application bottlenecks—particularly from motorists in rural areas—the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, extended the grace period to August 12 to make the process more “citizen-friendly.”
Now, with the deadline looming, the absence of updated enforcement guidelines is fuelling public concern. When contacted on Saturday, Adejobi told Sunday PUNCH, “We will speak on it soon,” but no statement had been issued at press time.
Motorists fear the ambiguity could open the door to extortion. Private car owner Jamiu Azeez said, “The police should be sending reminders, not leaving everyone in suspense. They might use this as an opportunity to extort money from people.”
Others criticised the N16,000 permit fee as unreasonable in the face of harsh economic realities. “This is sheer wickedness,” said Lagos-based driver Oladimeji Armstrong. “Tinted vehicles are not the cause of insecurity. The police should drop the idea so Nigerians can breathe.”
Some plan to remove their factory-installed tints rather than pay for a permit, while others believe the police should focus on more pressing security threats. “Criminals are ravaging the country and our security agencies are chasing petty issues,” said Kano motorist Luqman Ibrahim.
The police have yet to say whether enforcement will begin immediately after August 12, be phased in, or receive another extension.