Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Capital Territory FCT Police Command to reverse the ban on tinted glasses and covered vehicle number plates until a time when a clear guideline is issued by the Police hierarchy.
The House resolution followed the. adoption of a motion of urgent public importance titled “Addressing the Enforcement of Ban on Tinted Glasses and Covered Number Plates in the FCT” moved by Hon.Tolani Shagaya on the matter on Tuesday.
Debating the motion, Hon Shagaya noted the recent directive by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command enforcing a ban on vehicles with tinted glasses and covered number plates, as part of efforts to curb rising criminal activities such as kidnapping.
The House he said is aware that while the intent of this directive is to enhance security within the FCT, the abrupt enforcement without adequate public notice has led to widespread harassment of motorists and significant inconvenience to law-abiding citizens.
He expressed concerns 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.
The lawmaker said that he 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..
Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon.Tajudeen Abbas urged the FCT Police Command to immediately halt the harassment of motorists and to release vehicles that have been impounded solely for violations related to tinted glasses and covered number plates, provided there are no other infractions.
The presiding officer further called upon the FCT Police Command to issue a public notice granting a grace period of no less than 90 days, during which vehicle owners can take necessary steps to comply with the regulations concerning tinted glasses and number plates.
Moreover the House mandated its Committee on Police Affairs 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.
The green chamber also urged 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.
