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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

I’d ban all tinted vehicles if I had my way – IG

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, stated he prefers a total ban on tinted vehicles due to security risks, including their use by criminals.
  • The Nigerian Bar Association president, Afam Osigwe, opposed the commercialization of tinted glass permits, advocating for regulation without revenue generation.
  • Disu countered that prevailing security challenges necessitate stricter measures, citing recovered vehicles used in criminal operations that were fully tinted.

Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, expressed a strong personal desire to ban all tinted vehicles nationwide, citing significant security risks. He stated that fully tinted cars are frequently used by kidnappers, armed robbers, and "one-chance" operators, making them a serious concern for law enforcement.

If I have my way, there would be no vehicle that would be tinted in the country. And we are moving towards it.

— Olatunji DisuInspector-General of Police, stating his preference for a total ban on tinted vehicles.

Disu's stance emerged during a discussion with the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe. Osigwe had argued against the renewal and commercialization of tinted glass permits, suggesting that while the NBA supports police regulation, the process should not be a revenue-generating venture. He also questioned the need for periodic renewals once vehicle details are logged.

However, Disu maintained a different perspective, emphasizing the current security situation. He recalled his experience as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, where investigations into "one-chance" syndicates revealed that most vehicles involved were fully tinted. He noted that 27 vehicles recovered from such criminal activities had darkened windows, reinforcing his view on the link between tinted vehicles and crime. Disu also criticized the increasing use of extremely dark tints, even on windscreens, which he deems unacceptable and dangerous for security operations.

We have a security situation in the country now.

— Olatunji DisuInspector-General of Police, explaining the rationale behind his stance on tinted vehicles.

The police chief announced that enforcement against illegally tinted vehicles would soon be intensified nationwide. He stated that only individuals with genuine security or medical reasons are legally permitted to use tinted glass, and even then, it should not excessively obscure visibility. Disu concluded that the police would not accept fully tinted vehicles and would soon begin strict enforcement.

So we are not going to accept fully tinted vehicles in this country, and we are going to come out at a particular time to start enforcement of it.

— Olatunji DisuInspector-General of Police, announcing upcoming intensified enforcement against illegally tinted vehicles.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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