Nigeria: Representatives ask police to suspend ban on vehicles with tinted glasses

Lawmakers also called for the release of vehicles seized solely for violations involving tinted windows and covered license plates.

The House of Representatives has asked the FCT for this Police Command to halt implementation of ban on tinted glasses and covered license plates on vehicles.

This resolution followed a motion of urgent public interest tabled by Muktar Shagaya (APC, Kwara) during the plenary on Tuesday.

Moving the motion, Mr Shagaya informed the House that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command is imposing a ban on vehicles with tinted glasses and covered license plates as part of efforts to curb rising criminal activities such as kidnapping curb.

However, the lawmaker criticized the enforcement, stating that some police officers take the opportunity to harass and extort drivers.

“While the intent of this directive is to enhance safety within the FCT, the abrupt enforcement without adequate public notice has led to widespread harassment of motorists and significant inconvenience to law-abiding citizens.

“The lack of sufficient time for vehicle owners to comply with the new regulations has resulted in countless vehicles being seized, causing unnecessary hardship and potential economic losses for individuals and businesses,” Shagaya said.

The motion was passed without debate when Speaker Abbas Tajudeen put it to a vote.

Other resolutions

In addition to suspending the ban, lawmakers have also asked police to release vehicles seized solely for violations related to tinted glasses and covered license plates, provided there are no other violations.

The House further directed the FCT Police Command to issue a public notice granting a grace period of not less than 90 days during which vehicle owners may take necessary steps to comply with regulations relating to tinted glasses and license plates.

Furthermore, the House has charged its Committee on Police Affairs to work with the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to develop clear guidelines for the enforcement of such guidelines in the future, to ensure that adequate public awareness and reasonable timelines are established prior to the implementation.