The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has said he would support a nationwide ban on tinted vehicles if he had the authority to enforce it, citing growing security concerns across Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Disu argued that heavily tinted vehicles have become a preferred tool for kidnappers, armed robbers and operators of “one-chance” scams, making them a significant security risk.
The IGP said the country’s security challenges require stricter regulation of tinted vehicles and hinted that authorities are moving towards tighter restrictions.
“If I have my way, there would be no vehicle that would be tinted in the country,” Disu said. “And we are moving towards it.”
The IGP recalled his time as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, noting that investigations into criminal activities frequently involved vehicles with darkened windows. He said many of the 27 vehicles recovered from suspected one-chance syndicates were fully tinted, reinforcing concerns about their use in criminal operations.
Disu also expressed concern about the increasing use of extremely dark tints on windscreens and rear windows, warning that they pose risks during security checks. He explained that officers often struggle to identify occupants during stop-and-search operations, creating potential dangers for law enforcement personnel.
While acknowledging that Nigerian law permits tinted glass for individuals with legitimate security or medical needs, the police chief stressed that such modifications should not completely obstruct visibility.
He further disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force would soon intensify enforcement against illegally tinted vehicles nationwide.
Earlier at the event, Afam Osigwe, president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the association supports proper regulation of tinted glass permits but opposed turning the process into a revenue-generating exercise.
Osigwe questioned the need for regular permit renewals, arguing that once vehicle information is stored in a database, repeated renewals should be unnecessary. He also warned against outsourcing permit administration to private firms that collect fees on behalf of the police.
The NBA president added that the association supports enforcement measures against vehicles whose tints completely conceal occupants from security officials.
The debate follows criticism from the NBA in December after the Nigeria Police Force reactivated enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy. The police had announced that enforcement would resume on January 2, 2026, citing a rise in vehicle-related crimes.
