The Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to suspend the enforcement of the tinted glass permit requirement for vehicle owners across Nigeria. The interim order was issued in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, filed by legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins challenging the legality of the policy.
The court directed the police to respect judicial processes and maintain the status quo pending further proceedings in the matter. Before the ruling, the police had begun enforcing the tinted glass permit regulation in several states, requiring motorists with tinted vehicle glasses to obtain official permits via the government’s portal to avoid penalties such as impoundment and prosecution.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been a key critic of the permit, arguing that it violates fundamental rights and questioned the legal basis for the police’s enforcement, which relies on a 1991 military decree. The NBA described the tinted glass permit as potentially arbitrary and unduly burdensome amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Despite pushback and ongoing legal challenges, the police had maintained their commitment to enforce the policy to boost public safety and curb crime. The court’s latest ruling now halts enforcement until the substantive legal issues are resolved.
This development marks an important judicial check on regulatory enforcement and underscores the ongoing debate over tinted glass regulations in Nigeria.