Tinted Permit: When Police Becomes Revenue Agency

BY YUSUF BABALOLA

Across the world, policing is widely recognized as a noble profession rooted in public service and community trust. Police officers are regarded as social workers in uniform — individuals trained to safeguard lives, ensure peace, prevent crime, and intervene in moments of distress. They are expected to uphold justice, fairness, and human rights while maintaining the delicate balance between authority and service.

But in Nigeria, that noble essence seems to be fading fast. Under the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) appears to be shifting from its fundamental duty of protection to an entirely different mission — revenue generation. In recent months, the Force has rolled out a series of policies that have raised eyebrows, the most controversial being the annual renewal of tinted glass permits for vehicle owners.

While the Police have defended the policy on security grounds, claiming it will help track criminal elements who use tinted vehicles for nefarious purposes, many Nigerians interpret it differently. For the average citizen, this is yet another scheme designed to extract money from an already overburdened populace.

Traditionally, law enforcement agencies focus on maintaining public order, enforcing laws, and providing social protection. Revenue collection, on the other hand, is the job of agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), or the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). However, recent actions by the Police suggest that the institution is gradually positioning itself as a parallel revenue agency.

The tinted glass permit policy is a clear example. Vehicle owners are now required not only to apply for tinted permits but also to renew them yearly — a practice unheard of across tge world. Initially, the permit system was introduced for genuine security reasons, particularly during periods of heightened insecurity, to enable law enforcement to monitor vehicles with tinted windows. But turning this into an annual fee-paying exercise raises fundamental legal and ethical questions.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Police could generate more than N94 billion annually from this policy alone. For an agency not constitutionally mandated to raise or retain such revenue, this represents a troubling overreach. Many analysts see it as a desperate attempt to monetize policing in a country already groaning under multiple layers of taxation and fees.

Public outrage was swift. Legal experts, civil society organizations, and motorists condemned the move as illegal and exploitative. Their argument is simple: the Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating institution. Its mandate, as defined by the Police Act 2020, revolves around crime prevention, detection, investigation, and enforcement of laws — not financial collection.

In a significant development, the Federal High Court sitting in Warri intervened, halting the enforcement of the policy. The presiding judge, Justice I. M. Sani, issued an interim order directing the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo and desist from implementing the permit renewal pending further proceedings.

The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, was filed by legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins, who is challenging the legality and constitutionality of the policy. His contention is clear: the Police lack the statutory power to impose fees or financial obligations on citizens without explicit legislative backing from the National Assembly.

This development has reignited debates about the scope of police powers and the need to insulate law enforcement from financial interests that could compromise its integrity.

The tinted permit controversy is not occurring in isolation. Over the years, Nigerians have grown accustomed to a culture where interactions with the Police often come with a price tag. From roadblocks that serve as unofficial toll gates to “bail is free” offices where freedom has a hidden fee, the public perception of the Police has been one of institutional extortion.

Analysts argue that the new permit policy only formalizes what Nigerians have endured informally for decades — the commercialization of law enforcement. When police officers begin to see their uniforms as a source of revenue rather than a badge of service, it undermines public trust, weakens accountability, and corrodes the moral foundation of policing.

Even within the Force, morale is low. Rank-and-file officers often complain of poor welfare, unpaid allowances, and inadequate equipment. Many experts believe that the push for revenue generation is a reflection of systemic underfunding, mismanagement, and lack of government oversight. But instead of addressing these root causes, the leadership seems to be transferring the burden onto citizens.

It is true that tinted glass poses legitimate security concerns in Nigeria, especially with rising incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, Banditry, and  violence. However, addressing these challenges requires intelligence-driven policing, not blanket taxation disguised as security policy.

A responsible police institution would focus on database management, improved vehicle registration systems, and digital monitoring, rather than exploiting citizens through annual renewals. If properly implemented, a one-time verification system could achieve the same security objectives without creating unnecessary hardship.

The irony is glaring: while the Police justify the policy on security grounds, Nigeria’s security indicators continue to deteriorate. Banditry, kidnapping, and cybercrime persist, even as ordinary Nigerians are made to pay more in the name of “safety.”

The Nigerian Constitution is clear about revenue collection. No agency can impose or collect fees without a law enacted by the National Assembly or authorization through statutory regulation. If the Police proceed with this policy despite the court’s order, it will set a dangerous precedent for other agencies to follow — effectively turning governance into a cash collection enterprise.

Beyond legality, the moral dimension is equally troubling. The Police, as the first line of contact between the state and its citizens, should be the face of fairness and compassion. Instead, policies like the tinted permit renewal make the institution appear greedy and insensitive to the plight of the people it is meant to serve.

If the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, is genuinely interested in contributing to national revenue, perhaps that passion can be redirected towards financial reform after his tenure. He could make a strong case for improved fiscal management, or even join the FIRS where his enthusiasm for revenue generation would be more appropriate.

But for now, his priority should be reclaiming the soul of the Nigeria Police Force — rebuilding public trust, enhancing professionalism, improving welfare, and ensuring that policing once again becomes about people, not profit.

Nigerians deserve a police force that serves them, not one that charges them for existing.

Yusuf Babalola writes from Lagos and can be reached via email at babalolayusufabiola@gmail.com or by phone at 0806 152 0468.