The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) have agreed to review the tinted glass policy to make it align with public interest and national security objectives.
The Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN), announced this while addressing reporters yesterday in Lagos on the activities lined up for the SPIDEL 2025 Conference.
The NBA leader said the decision followed weeks of engagement between both parties after concerns were raised by Nigerians over the harassment of motorists whose vehicle windows were not completely transparent.
He said the association intervened after several reports of indiscriminate arrests and impoundment of vehicles by police officers enforcing the tinted permit directive.
‘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 said.
He said the committee would examine the legal and security implications of the policy and recommend new modalities for its regulation.
According to him, SPIDEL’s engagement with the police was not confrontational but aimed at promoting accountability and justice in public administration.
‘SPIDEL is not a body of activists; our focus is public interest and development’, he said.
Ananaba also announced that the SPIDEL 2025 Conference would be held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, from December 1 to 5, to discuss reforms in justice, governance, and international collaboration for human rights promotion.
Also, the Vance Centre for International Justice has proposed a partnership with NBA-SPIDEL to strengthen public interest law and institutionalise pro bono legal services across Africa.
The centre’s Africa Initiative Director, Mrs. Adaobi Egboka, spoke at a media briefing in Lagos.
She explained that the collaboration aims to promote access to justice, ethical legal practice, and professional development within the continent’s legal community.
Egboka said the initiative would support the NBA in developing a structured pro bono framework, establishing a database of participating law firms, and setting standards for tracking legal aid contributions. She also called for a ‘Pro Bono Declaration for Africa’ to commit firms to provide free legal services for the underprivileged. Highlighting the success of a similar Pro Bono Institute launched in Kenya, she urged the NBA to join efforts toward building a stronger, data-driven, and institutionalised pro bono culture that enhances accountability and access to justice for vulnerable groups.
