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Police, NBA Begin Review of Tinted Permit Policy in Nigeria
The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) have agreed to review the country’s tinted permit policy to ensure it aligns with public interest and national security goals.
The development was announced by Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN), Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, during an interactive session in Ikeja on Thursday, ahead of the NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference scheduled for December 1–5 in Akwa Ibom.
According to Ananaba, the decision followed weeks of engagement between NBA-SPIDEL and the Police after widespread complaints from Nigerians about harassment of motorists whose vehicle windows were not completely transparent.
He said: “Following our discussions with senior police officers, we agreed that enforcement of the tinted permit should be suspended while a joint review committee is constituted.”
Ananaba explained that the committee will include representatives from NBA-SPIDEL and the Nigeria Police, and will examine both the legal and security implications of the policy before recommending new modalities for its regulation.
He stressed that SPIDEL’s engagement with the Police was not confrontational, but aimed at promoting accountability, justice, and good governance.
“SPIDEL is not a body of activists. Our focus is public interest and development,” he added.
The NBA-SPIDEL chairman also revealed that the association had filed a suit against the Police over alleged discrimination against some citizens, emphasizing that such legal actions were vital to uphold the rule of law.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Adaobi Egboka, Director of the Africa Initiative at the Vance Centre, New York City Bar, announced a proposal for partnership between the Vance Centre for International Justice and NBA-SPIDEL.
The partnership aims to strengthen public interest law, institutionalize pro bono legal services, and enhance access to justice across Africa.
Egboka explained that the Vance Centre, a non-profit arm of the New York City Bar Association, works globally to promote human rights, environmental justice, institutional integrity, and public interest reporting through legal collaborations and data-driven initiatives.
“Our goal is to help the NBA develop a structured pro bono framework, create a database of participating law firms, and establish measurable standards for legal aid contributions,” she stated.
She also called for collaboration in establishing a “Pro Bono Declaration for Africa,” similar to the one adopted in the Americas, to promote accountability and inclusivity within the legal profession.
“The Vance Centre has successfully launched a Pro Bono Institute in Kenya, and we believe Nigeria can build a similar model in partnership with the NBA-SPIDEL,” Egboka said.
