The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command to immediately halt the indiscriminate harassment of motorists and release vehicles that were impounded solely for violations related to tinted glasses and covered number plates until after a public notice of not less than three months to enable vehicle owners prepare themselves to comply with the directive. This was sequel to a motion of urgent national public importance moved during plenary  by Hon Muktar Shagaya.


In his lead debate on the motion, Shagaya said the recent directive by the FCT Police Command to enforce the ban on vehicles with tinted glasses and covered number plates as part of its efforts to curb rising criminal activities should be done with caution.


According to the lawmaker, the intent of the directive is to enhance security within the FCT, but lamented that the abrupt enforcement without adequate public notice has led to widespread harassment of motorists and significant inconvenience to law-abiding citizens. He raised concerns that lack of sufficient time for vehicle owners to comply with the new regulations had resulted in numerous vehicles being impounded, causing undue hardship and potential economic losses to individuals and businesses.


The lawmaker further stated that though they know the importance of security measures to protect citizens, but it must be implemented in a manner that respects the rights of individuals and allows for reasonable compliance timeline. He also urged the FCT Police Command to issue a public notice granting a grace period of not less than 90 days, during which vehicle owners can take the necessary steps to comply with the regulations concerning tinted glasses and number plates.


The Green Chambers also mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to engage the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to develop clear guidelines for the enforcement of the directives in the future to ensure that adequate public awareness and reasonable timelines are established prior to implementation.


The House thereafter directed 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.