Police in the Federal Capital Territory will arrest drivers with tinted vehicles without exception. Commissioner Ahmed Sanusi made this clear in a video message released Wednesday.
Sanusi noted that having a tint permit offers no protection from arrest. "Whether you have permit or not, if we get to you with your tinted vehicle, we will arrest you," he told reporters through the command's spokesperson.
The FCT Police Command has begun enforcing strict tint regulations across the territory. Officials say the crackdown targets kidnappers, armed robbers, and drug traffickers who use darkened windows.
Criminals exploit tinted vehicles to hide their faces and operations. Law enforcement finds it nearly impossible to identify suspects or detect crimes in these cars.
Sanusi emphasized that permit holders won't escape scrutiny during enforcement. Police will verify whether permit documents are authentic and whether holders qualified to obtain them.
Some criminals have obtained permits illegally, he warned. They then use these documents as cover while committing serious offences.
"We will not allow criminals to hide under the fact that they have obtained tinted permits and then go on committing crimes," Sanusi stated.
Motorists claiming medical reasons for tinting must provide proof. Hospital records must confirm the medical necessity, and police will verify these documents directly with healthcare facilities.
"If you give us your results that recommend that you should use such type of vehicle, we'll verify from the hospitals that gave that to you," he noted.
Factory-fitted tints differ from aftermarket darkening, Sanusi acknowledged. Most vehicles with factory tints allow visibility into the interior despite their appearance.
Deep aftermarket tints present the real danger, he explained. These modifications completely obscure the vehicle's interior, unlike original manufacturer tints.
Heavily tinted vehicles have appeared in numerous criminal investigations by the command. Kidnapping cases and "one-chance" robbery operations frequently involved darkened cars.
Victims have been transported in tinted vehicles without anyone noticing. "People have been carried in tinted vehicles unnoticed," Sanusi said during the announcement.
The commissioner stated enforcement would treat all tinted vehicles identically. No distinction would be made between permit holders and those without documentation.
"The only way to stop it is to go after all tinted vehicles, not separating those who have permits from those who don't," he stressed.
Drivers should expect increased checkpoints across Abuja. Enforcement operations will continue until tinting violations drop significantly in the territory.
The command's spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, shared the commissioner's message on social media Wednesday. She confirmed that all officers have received updated enforcement guidelines.
