By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Federal Government (FG), has reiterated its ban on the unauthorized use of military camouflage, insisting that no individual or Institution in Nigeria outside the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force while on Joint Operation with the Military are allowed by law to use the military camouflage.
The Nigerian authority maintained that the use of camouflage uniforms by various security agencies other than the Armed Forces namely, the Army, Navy and the Air Force remain banned.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle, in a statement on Monday, said that due to the present security situation in the country, the Government ban on other para-military agencies from the use of military camouflage remains in force to bring sanity to the system and also as a way of checkmating criminal activities.
The statement which was signed by Director of Press, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, also noted that the Minister’s call came at a time when criminals disguised as military and mara military personnel caused havoc in the society.
The Minister said, “The present situation does not support the use of Military camouflage by people who are not authorized or not personnel of DHQ. The criminals among us have had to take advantage of the military, police and other security agencies’ gears to perpetrate crimes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to streamline the personnel that are authorized to use the military camouflage”.
Dr. Matawalle further reaffirmed the readiness of the Nigeria Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police to enforce the directive given by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, regarding the immediate cessation of the use of camouflage uniforms by para-military agencies.
“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 personnel 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 statement revealed.
The Minister gave an exception to the use by the Nigerian Police Force, which he said, can only use it when on joint operation with the military.
He said the enforcement of the ban becomes imperative given the security implications and concerns raised on the clamour of duplicity and proliferation in the country.
He pointed out the importance of this caution saying: “The measure is aimed at checkmating crime rate in Nigeria. If we identify those that are authorized to use the camouflage, we can quickly differentiate them from criminals that intend to confuse us”.
Dr. Matawalle said that henceforth extant laws guiding the use of camouflage uniform in Nigeria would strictly be enforced.
