Authorities in Nigeria’s south-eastern Enugu state have banned the unlicensed use of vehicles with tinted glasses, in the latest effort to curb criminal activities.

Owners of vehicles with tinted glasses in the state have until September 4 to obtain permits from the police.

The authorities will impound vehicles in default and fine their owners, state official Prof Chidiebere Onyia said in a statement.

Nigerian police stopped issuing permits for tinted vehicles across the country in 2021, following complaints of people using fake licences and police harassing car owners.

The directive came as the government sought to develop a new protocol for issuing the permits. It however exempted vehicles with factory-fitted tinted glass.

The use of tinted vehicles is prevalent in Enugu, including by criminals who use the vehicles to commit crimes like robbery and kidnapping.

The ban has been welcomed by some vehicle dealers in the state.

Collins P, the owner of Chinweuba Automobile company, told the BBC Newsday programme, that criminals cover their vehicle glasses with tinted film from unauthorised vendors, making it easy for them to commit crime.

“If you want to have your car tinted, you need to have a permit, you take your car to the police. If the tinted glass is factory-fitted, they will issue you a licence and will have your data so that if in case anything happens tomorrow, they can call you for questioning,” he said.