The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command to immediately halt the indiscriminate harassment of motorists and release vehicles that have been impounded solely for violations related to tinted glasses and covered number plates, provided there are no other infractions.
The House also called upon the FCT Police Command to issue a public notice granting a grace period of not less than 90 days, during which vehicle owners can take necessary steps to comply with the regulations concerning tinted glasses and number plates.
The lawmakers also directed the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to launch a comprehensive public enlightenment campaign, informing citizens about the specifics of the regulations and the procedures for obtaining necessary permits or making required modifications to their vehicles.
These resolutions were a sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on “Addressing the Enforcement of Ban on Tinted Glasses and Covered Number Plates in the FCT” by Rep. Tolani Shagaya, a lawmaker representing Asa/Ilorin West federal constituency of Kwara State, on Tuesday at plenary.
Debating the motion, Rep. Shagaya noted that the recent directive by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command enforced a ban on vehicles with tinted glasses and covered number plates, as part of efforts to curb rising criminal activities such as kidnapping.
According to him, though the directive intends to enhance security within the FCT, abruptly enforcing it without adequate public notice has led to widespread harassment of motorists and significant inconvenience to law-abiding citizens.
He said, “Concerned that the lack of sufficient time for vehicle owners to comply with the new regulations has resulted in numerous vehicles being impounded, causing undue hardship and potential economic losses to individuals and businesses.
“Recognises the importance of security measures to protect citizens but emphasises that such measures must be implemented in a manner that respects the rights of individuals and allows for reasonable compliance timelines.”
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its Committee on Police to engage with the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to develop clear guidelines for the enforcement of such directives in the future, ensuring that adequate public awareness and reasonable timelines are established prior to implementation.
