ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, has declared that fully tinted vehicles will no longer be tolerated on Nigerian roads, revealing that the Nigeria Police Force is working towards stricter enforcement against their use.
Disu made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by its President, Mr Afam Osigwe (SAN), during a courtesy visit.
The police chief said his position on tinted vehicles was informed by prevailing security challenges across the country, stressing that such vehicles have become a preferred tool for criminals, including kidnappers and operators of the notorious “one chance” syndicates.
“On the issue of tinted glass, I have a different view about it entirely because we have a security situation in the country now.
“If I have my way, tinted vehicles will not be allowed on Nigerian roads, and we are moving towards it,” he said.
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Recalling his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Disu said investigations into “one chance” operations revealed a disturbing trend.
“When we started an operation against ‘one chance’ activities, we went all out against them. We recovered 27 vehicles used by ‘one chance’ operators and out of the number, 26 were tinted vehicles.
“So, we got the idea that kidnappers, one chance operators and other criminals were tinting their vehicles deliberately for criminal activities,” he stated.
According to him, the level of vehicle tinting in Nigeria has become excessive, with some motorists extending the tint to windscreens and rear screens, making it difficult for security personnel to identify occupants.
He argued that the practice exposes police officers and other security operatives to danger because they cannot properly assess potential threats when approaching such vehicles.
“The lives of security officers on the roads are being put in danger because they cannot see the occupants of such vehicles as they approach,” he said, adding that citizens also have a responsibility to support the safety of law enforcement personnel.
The IGP noted that the law only permits tinted glass for security and medical reasons, insisting that even in such circumstances, vehicle windows should not be darkened to the extent that occupants become invisible.
“So, it is not acceptable for you to fully tint your glasses because the only two reasons vehicles were permitted to be tinted according to the law are for security and medical reasons.
“Even at that, you do not have a right to tint your vehicle so dark that it cannot be seen around,” he said.
Disu observed that many imported vehicles come with factory-fitted tints mainly on rear windows, unlike locally modified vehicles where drivers often darken all glass surfaces and leave only a small opening near the driver’s seat to aid visibility.
He further warned that criminals have exploited such modifications to evade detection, noting that victims have been kidnapped inside tinted vehicles and driven through checkpoints without attracting attention.
The police chief also expressed concern over the growing trend of citizens recording police officers while on duty, saying indiscriminate video recording could affect morale at a time when security personnel are confronting significant challenges.
“I want to plead that this is not the time to demoralise police officers. The country is going through some security situations, and officers are going through that as well,” he said.
“Police officers are eating, you are going to video them. Police officers have rights as well, and we are ready to enforce our rights.”
Disu maintained that the Force had intensified efforts to tackle misconduct within its ranks, stressing that numerous officers had been sanctioned, dismissed or punished following public complaints.
“When we say end to impunity, we have started working towards it. Whenever you report our officers, we take it up, and a lot of them have been dismissed, and some of them have been punished.
“When we say end to impunity, it does not only apply to our officers, it concerns every member of the public as well. We are going to act on that,” he added.
Addressing concerns about bail conditions, the IGP clarified that the purpose of requiring a surety is to ensure that a responsible person can produce a suspect whenever necessary.
He explained that police officers are expected to verify the surety’s address and means of livelihood, while dismissing claims that only senior public servants can serve as sureties.
According to him, women are equally qualified to stand as sureties for suspects, and the police are unaware of any regulation requiring a surety to be a Grade Level 14 officer.
Earlier, NBA President Afam Osigwe said the association visited the IGP to congratulate him on his appointment and explore areas of collaboration between the legal profession and the police.
While supporting efforts to improve security, Osigwe criticised attempts to turn tinted glass permits into a revenue-generating venture.
“The NBA is, in principle, not opposed to granting tinted glass permits to the police, but opposed to turning tinted glass approval into a money-making venture,” he said.
He questioned the rationale behind the renewal requirement for tinted glass approvals and opposed the involvement of private companies in collecting payments for permits.
Osigwe, however, agreed that security concerns justify restrictions on excessively dark vehicle tints, noting that the law only permits levels of tint that still allow visibility of drivers and passengers.
“So we have nothing against going against vehicles that have tints to the extent that you cannot see the drivers or the occupants of the vehicle,” he said.