The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to stop the enforcement of a ban on tinted glasses and covered number plates in the nation’s capital.
It said while the intent of this directive was 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, therefore, called on the FCT Police Command to issue a public notice granting a grace period of no less than 90 days, during which vehicle owners could take necessary steps to comply with the regulations concerning tinted glasses and number plates.
The decision of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance moved at the plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Muktar Shagaya.
Presenting the motion, Shagaya said the recent directive by the 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.
He decried 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.
While recognising the importance of security measures to protect citizens, Shagaya argued that such measures must be implemented in a manner that respects the rights of individuals and allows for reasonable compliance timelines.
The House urged 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.
“Call 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.”
The House also mandated the 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.