In response to the prevailing security challenges in the country, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, MON, has reiterated the prohibition on the unauthorized use of Military camouflage. Dr. Matawalle emphasized that according to the law, only the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force, when on Joint Operations with the Military, are permitted to utilize Military camouflage.
This statement from the Minister comes amidst reports of criminals exploiting Military and Para Military attire to perpetrate crimes within the society. “The current situation does not permit the use of Military camouflage by unauthorized individuals or non-personnel of the DHQ,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the concerning trend of criminals masquerading as security personnel, Dr. Matawalle stressed the necessity to regulate and restrict the usage of Military camouflage to authorized personnel only. He attributed the Government’s ban on other Para Military Agencies from donning Military camouflage to maintaining order within the security framework and curbing criminal activities.
The Minister underscored the readiness of the Nigeria Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police to enforce the directive issued by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, regarding the immediate cessation of the use of camouflage uniforms by para-military agencies. He referenced a circular titled “Observation on Proliferation in the Use of Camouflage Uniforms by Other Security Agencies in Nigeria,” signed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, which mandated agencies such as the Nigeria Immigration Service, NSCDC, and the Federal Fire Service to discontinue the use of camouflage uniforms.
While reiterating the ban on the use of camouflage uniforms by security agencies other than the Armed Forces, Dr. Matawalle made an exception for the Nigerian Police Force, allowing them to employ Military camouflage only during Joint Operations with the Military.
Emphasizing the imperative nature of enforcing the ban, the Minister highlighted the security implications and concerns surrounding the proliferation of camouflage attire in the country. “The measure is aimed at combating the crime rate in Nigeria,” he affirmed, stressing the importance of differentiating authorized personnel from criminals.
Dr. Matawalle concluded by affirming that existing laws governing the use of camouflage uniforms in Nigeria would be strictly enforced moving forward.
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