The Nigerian Police Force has postponed the start of its controversial digital tinted glass permit tax regime to October, granting a 52-day extension amid mounting complaints of extortion, technical glitches, and disorder at registration centres. The policy, which imposes an annual N16,000 naira levy on vehicles with tinted windows, was initially set to begin yesterday and is projected to generate about N94 billion naira annually. Non-compliance would attract penalties ranging from fines and vehicle impoundment to arrest and imprisonment.
Scenes at the Lagos State Police Command on Monday reflected the public frustration, with long queues, chaotic crowds, and repeated reports of motorists paying unofficial fees to speed up the process. Applicants described failed online registrations, repeated rejections of Bank Verification Numbers and National Identity Numbers, and sudden portal outages. Even motorists who already hold valid tint permits are reportedly being instructed to re-register, further increasing congestion and confusion.
Several applicants recounted paying bribes ranging from N10,000 naira to N40,000 naira to gain access to biometric capture facilities. Others described being sent back and forth between different offices, waiting for hours, and facing an insufficient number of officials to handle the large turnout. A check on the registration portal late Monday showed the option for tint permit applications had been disabled, blocking new entries entirely.
