ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Military authorities on Friday banned paramilitary organisations in the country from using camouflage uniforms, restricting it only to the Armed Forces, namely the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
The Nigeria Police will, however, be able to use their camouflage uniform when in joint operations with the military or on special duties such as specific anti-riot missions.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, in Abuja on Friday, the military said the new rule followed the directive of the National Security Council, approving the recommendations of a committee on measures to streamline the use of camouflage uniforms.
This was in view of the security implications and concerns on the clamour, duplicity and proliferation of camouflage uniforms in the country.
“The use of camouflage/fatigues is, therefore, restricted to the military and for occasional use by the police henceforth.
“The directive also stipulates that the military is to adopt only two types of camouflage for the three arms of the Armed Forces.
“All paramilitary agencies using various camouflage/fatigues uniforms have up to January 2016 to withdraw such materials currently in their inventory.
“With this development, the Ministry of Justice along with law enforcement agencies have been tasked to ensure that extant laws guiding the use of uniforms in Nigeria are strictly enforced,” the statement said.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
