Tinted Glass Permit

First Things First

The discussion surrounding the new requirement for tinted-glass registration by the Nigeria Police Force has been intense and packed with conflicting opinions. Some argued it was crucial, while others maintained it was irrelevant. To prevent any possibility of police harassment during my planned trip in October, I adopted a prudent approach: I registered online and promptly completed the necessary payment.

A few days later, I received a text message directing me to the FIB Annex in Lagos for biometric capture before a specified date. The message appeared straightforward at first—until I came to the realisation that I was unsure of the exact location of the Annex. Upon enquiring, I was directed to Lagos Island. What I discovered there was quite different from my expectations. Before I received any support, an undocumented payment request surfaced.

My disapproval provoked resistance, leading to a heated exchange that made it impossible for me to continue. I departed the premises feeling unfulfilled, accompanied by an increasing sense of utter confusion around a process I had attempted to follow properly. In a state of frustration, I dialled the number from the original message and made specific enquiries about the process. This time, the voice on the other end calmly directed me to the head office—the location that would have been the easiest and most convenient choice from the beginning, just minutes from my home, and confirmed to be the centre where the server is situated.

In that instant, I experienced a blend of relief, irritation, and subtle amusement. How often in life have I chosen the longer path simply due to a lack of timely information? How frequently had I drifted to the “Island”—both in thought and in reality—when the solution lay patiently nearby? What if I had taken the time to consult the process owner before proceeding?

I took a moment to reflect on the consequences of overlooking that possibility, and I realised that the confusion and frustration could have been prevented had I reached out to the source in the first instance. The head office had consistently served as the source of clarity. The route was more direct, secure, and in alignment with the actual process; however, it required a diversion into uncertainty for me to fully appreciate that.

That brought to mind Hagar’s story in Genesis 16: In her state of distress and uncertainty, she had fled into the wilderness, removing herself from the location where clarity and resources were available. Lost and misunderstood, she faced confusion and hardship—until she was guided with the simple yet profound instruction: “Return to your mistress…” As she realised that El Roi, the God who sees, had been observing her every step, I was also reminded that true guidance often comes when we take a moment to pause, ask the right questions, and listen to the right voice. Indeed, our engagements and experiences achieve better results when they align with God’s counsel and instruction.

“Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way, you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly! He will appear as your righteousness, as sure as the dawning of a new day. He will manifest as your justice, as sure and strong as the noonday sun.” Psalms 37:5-6 TPT