The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has slammed the planned reactivation of the tinted glass permit enforcement by the Nigeria Police Force, describing it as a brazen revenue-generating drive.
The Association said this becomes more worrisome coming from an agency that is not legally empowered to collect taxes or levies.
The NBA made the assertion in a statement responding to a December 15, 2025 press release by the police announcing that enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy would resume from January 2, 2026.
According to the association, the move raises serious questions about transparency, legality, and adherence to due process.
The association said it was particularly troubling that funds collected under the permit scheme are reportedly paid into the account of a private entity, a development it described as inconsistent with public finance principles and Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
“The permit policy undermines Nigeria’s tax reforms, which will come into effect in January 2026, in that it will add to the multiplicity of taxes and taxing agencies in Nigeria, as well as the high corporate tax burden on businesses,” the NBA stated.
From an economic perspective, the association said the permit fee adds another layer to Nigeria’s complex tax environment, portraying the country as an increasingly difficult place to do business.
The policy was first introduced in April 2025 by the Inspector General of Police, requiring motorists to obtain annual permits for tinted vehicle windows through an online platform. Enforcement was initially scheduled to begin on June 1, 2025, before being postponed to October 2 following public outcry.
During the period, reports of harassment, extortion, and alleged civil rights violations, especially involving young Nigerians, became widespread, intensifying opposition to the policy.
The association also questioned whether the National Assembly had the legislative competence to enact the law.
While announcing the resumption of enforcement on Monday, the Nigeria Police said the decision followed a review of escalating security concerns.
According to the Force, there has been an increase in the use of vehicles with unauthorised tinted glass to facilitate crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent offences.
The Force noted that criminals had exploited the enforcement gap to conceal their identities, making the resumption of enforcement urgent and necessary to strengthen public safety.