The Federal Government has reaffirmed the ban on the use of military camouflage by the police, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and other paramilitary organisations.
It said only the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), while on joint operation with the military, are allowed by law to use the military camouflage.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
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He said the ban was informed by the current insecurity in the country whereby criminals disguise as military and other security personnel to wreak havoc.
The Nation reports that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had, in a circular, titled: “Observation on Proliferation in the Use of Camouflage Uniforms by Other Security Agencies in Nigeria,” mandated personnel of the NIS, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Fire Service, among others, to discontinue the use of camouflages henceforth.
The minister insisted that there was the need to streamline those authorised to use the military camouflages.
He said: “Use of camouflage uniforms by various security agencies other than the Armed Forces, namely the Army, Navy, and the Air Force remain banned.
“The present situation does not support the use of military camouflage by people who are not authorised or not personnel of the Defence Headquarters.
“The criminals among us have had to take advantage of the military, the Police and other security agencies’ gears to perpetrate crimes.”
Matawalle said the military and the police had been directed to enforce the order given by the NSA.
