Due to the current security situation in the country, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has reiterated the prohibition on unauthorized use of Military camouflage.
In a statement by the Director of Information, Press, and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, the Minister clarified that only the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force, while on joint operations with the Military, are legally permitted to utilise Military camouflage.
He highlighted that criminals in the country are exploiting Military, Police, and other security agencies’ attire to carry out unlawful activities.
The Minister stressed the necessity to regulate the individuals authorized to wear Military camouflage.
Related posts
- CAN Raises Alarm Over Insecurity, High Cost of Living
- Insecurity: Gov. Oyebanji Meets With Security Chiefs
- Gov Aiyedatiwa says no plan to scrap LCDAs
- Zaidu Sanusi Suffers ACL Injury, Could Miss Season
He explained that the government’s restriction on other Paramilitary Agencies from using Military camouflage aims to restore order to the system and curb criminal activities.
Mr Matawalle underscored the Nigeria Armed Forces’ and the Nigeria Police’s commitment to enforce the directive issued by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, regarding the immediate cessation of para-military agencies’ use of camouflage uniforms.
“The circular titled Observation on Proliferation in the Use of Camouflage Uniforms by Other Security Agencies in Nigeria,” personally signed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, mandated personnels of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Federal Fire Service, among others, to discontinue the use of camouflage uniforms henceforth, following the directive issued by ONSA.”
The Minister affirmed that the utilisation of camouflage uniforms by security agencies other than the Armed Forces, namely the Army, Navy, and Air Force, remains prohibited.
However, he made an exception for the Nigerian Police Force, allowing their use of camouflage only during joint operations with the Military.
He emphasised that enforcing the ban is crucial due to security implications and concerns regarding duplicity and proliferation in the country.
“The measure is aimed at checking the mating crime rate in Nigeria, adding that if we identify those that are authorized to use the camouflage, we can quickly differentiate them from criminals that intend to confuse us,” he said.
He said henceforth extant laws guiding the use of camouflage uniform in Nigeria would strictly be enforced.
