Police, NBA-SPIDEL to Review Tinted Permit Policy, Set Up Joint Committee

The Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) have agreed to establish a joint committee to review the current regulations governing tinted vehicle permits.

This was announced by NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN), during an interactive session in Ikeja on Thursday. The session was part of the build-up to the NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference scheduled for December 1–5 in Akwa Ibom.

Ananaba stated that the decision followed weeks of dialogue between the association and senior police officials, prompted by growing public concerns over the harassment of motorists with tinted windows.

He revealed that NBA-SPIDEL stepped in after numerous reports of indiscriminate arrests and vehicle seizures related to the enforcement of the tinted glass directive.

“Following constructive engagements, it was agreed that enforcement of the tinted permit regulation be suspended temporarily, pending the outcome of a joint review by a committee comprising representatives from both NBA-SPIDEL and the police,” Ananaba said.

He emphasized that SPIDEL’s approach was not adversarial but aimed at fostering accountability and promoting justice in public policy. According to him, the committee will evaluate the legal and security aspects of the policy and propose revised guidelines that reflect national security priorities while safeguarding civil liberties.

Ananaba also disclosed that the association had initiated legal action against the police, challenging alleged discriminatory enforcement practices. “We are not activists,” he added. “Our mandate is to protect the public interest and promote development.”

Meanwhile, during the event, Mrs. Adaobi Egboka, Director of the Africa Programme at the Vance Centre (New York City Bar Association), presented a proposal to partner with NBA-SPIDEL in strengthening public interest law and institutionalising pro bono legal services across Africa.

Egboka explained that the Vance Centre, a non-profit organisation, works globally to promote justice through cross-border legal collaboration, pro bono service, and institutional reform. She said the proposed partnership would support the NBA in developing a structured pro bono system, including a database of participating law firms and standards for measuring legal aid contributions.

She further recommended the adoption of a “Pro Bono Declaration for Africa”, similar to the one in the Americas, to encourage law firms to commit a set number of annual hours to free legal services for disadvantaged populations.

Egboka cited the successful launch of a Pro Bono Institute in Kenya created in collaboration with local law schools and firms as a potential model for Nigeria. “We encourage the NBA to support our mission of building a sustainable, data-driven pro bono culture across Africa,” she said.