Police Reaffirm Commitment to Rebuilding Public Trust, Defend Enforcement of Tinted Glass Law

The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to rebuilding public trust and strengthening collaboration with citizens as part of ongoing efforts to improve security and enhance policing across the country.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Anietie Iniedu, made this known during an interview at the Landslide News Studio, where he spoke with the program anchor, Kingsley Okafor, on a wide range of issues, including ongoing police reforms, public confidence in the Force, and the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004.

Speaking on the relationship between the police and the public, Iniedu acknowledged that years of strained interactions had created a trust deficit but emphasized that the current leadership of the Nigeria Police Force is taking deliberate steps to restore public confidence through accountability, transparency, and greater engagement with citizens.

“This trust gap has been affected due to longstanding relationship issues between the police and the population. But we’re doing our best to ensure that we bridge this gap,” he said.

According to the Force PRO, one of his responsibilities is to keep Nigerians informed about the reforms and security strategies being introduced by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Force Management Team to improve policing nationwide.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police to professionalism and accountability, quoting the IGP as saying, “This is the end of the era of impunity,” while stressing that “the citizens are the boss.”

Tinted Glass Law and Public Misconceptions

During the interview, host Kingsley Okafor sought clarification on the renewed enforcement of the tinted glass law and whether its implementation could help reduce crimes such as one-chance operations.

Responding, Iniedu encouraged Nigerians to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, noting that many public discussions on the issue are based on misconceptions rather than the actual provisions of the law.

“I’ve really never heard anyone come out and say, ‘This is what the law says, and this is what the law does not say.’ However, I would like to encourage citizens of our great nation to look at the Act. It’s called the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004,” he said.

He explained that motorists are prohibited from using tinted glass unless they can demonstrate legitimate health or security reasons to the Nigeria Police Force.

“You are not allowed to tint your car, except you can prove to the police that there’s a health reason why you need to tint your car, and also that there’s a security reason why you need to tint your car, before the police decides to now give you that permit,” he explained.

Police Still Issue Tinted Glass Permits

Addressing concerns over reports of a ban on tinted glass permits, Iniedu clarified that the Nigeria Police Force still issues permits, although discussions on the policy are ongoing at the government level.

“We give permits, which we still do. I’m not aware there’s a ban yet, but I’m aware it is being discussed at the government level,” he said.

However, he expressed concern over the abuse of the permits by some motorists, explaining that individuals who obtain permits for legitimate reasons often exceed the approved level of tinting, making it difficult for security personnel to identify occupants during routine checks.

“We have also noticed that those permits are abused. We give you permit, and then you now wrap your whole car with tint, and you don’t allow the police officer to see you when you are approaching him. And that is dangerous for all of us,” he stated.

According to him, the abuse of tinted glass permits has not only increased security risks but has also contributed to attacks on police officers and road accidents.

“We’ve lost a lot of policemen because of these kinds of actions,” he added.

He advised motorists who have been granted permits to ensure they are used strictly for the health or security reasons for which they were approved.

“If you have our tint permit, it should be strictly for security and health reasons,” he emphasized.

Illegal Installers Liable Under the Law

The Force PRO further disclosed that the law empowers the police to arrest mechanics and installers who fit tinted glass without proper authorization.

According to him, such individuals are regarded as accomplices because they facilitate violations of the law.

“The law also states that the police can arrest mechanics and those who do the tints without approval. They are accomplices,” he said.

Police Reject Claims of Harassment

Responding to concerns raised by the program host on whether enforcement of the tinted glass law could become another avenue for police harassment, Iniedu maintained that the Nigeria Police Force exists primarily to protect lives and property.

“The Nigerian Police was not created to harass any individual. We are a law-abiding organisation, and one of the major objectives of the Nigerian Police is the protection of lives and property,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that proper enforcement of the law would improve road safety while also helping security agencies combat crimes carried out with concealed vehicles.

Combating One-Chance Operations

Speaking on one-chance syndicates, Iniedu noted that many criminal groups exploit tinted vehicles to conceal their identities while posing as commercial transport operators.

“There’s this menace in our urban centres of what we call the one-chance operators. They pretend to be taxi drivers and when you enter, the next thing, you are robbed. We’ve lost a lot of individuals,” he said.

He maintained that stricter enforcement of the tinted glass law, combined with public cooperation and adherence to existing regulations, would contribute significantly to reducing such crimes and improving public safety across the country.