Insecurity: NSCDC, NIS, Fire Service, Others To Discontinue Use Of Camouflage

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle has told personnels of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Fire Service, and others paramilitary agencies to discontinue the use of camouflage uniforms henceforth.

The minister said only the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force (while on joint operation with the military), are allowed by law to use the camouflage.

This followed the insecurity threat that has characterised the country for the past few weeks.

He said government’s ban on other paramilitary agencies’ use of military camouflage was to bring sanity to the system and also as a way of checkmating criminal activities.

A statement issued on Monday evening by Henshaw Ogubike, Director, Information, Press and Public Relations, noted that the present situation does not support the use of military camouflage by people who are not authorised or personnel of DHQ.

According to him, “The criminals among us have taken advantage of the military, police and other security agencies’ gears to perpetrate crimes.”

It emphasised that there was a need to streamline the personnel authorised to use military camouflage.

The statement quoted Matawalle’s emphasy on the readiness of the Nigerian 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 paramilitary agencies.

“The circular titled “Observation on Proliferation in the Use of Camouflage Uniforms by Other Security Agencies in Nigeria,” 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 noted.

The minister reiterated that the use of camouflage uniforms by various security agencies other than the Armed Forces—namely the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force—remains banned.