The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated FCT Police Command to immediately halt the enforcement of tinted permits forthwith.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on the ‘urgent need to address the enforcement of the ban on tinted glasses and covered number plates in the FCT’, sponsored by Hon. Muktar Tolani Shagaya, who solicited for the House intervention.
The lawmakers who expressed grave concerns over the abrupt enforcement of the policy, frowned at the indiscriminate harassment of motorists and directed authorities of the FCT Police Command to release vehicles that have been impounded solely for violations related to tinted glasses and covered number plates, provided there are no other infractions.
In his lead debate, Hon. Shagaya expressed grave concern over the outcome of 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 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.
“The House is concerned 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 House 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.
“The House urges the FCT Police Command to immediately halt the indiscriminate 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 House calls 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.
To the end, 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.
Hence, the House 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.
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