Paramilitary Agencies Still Use Camouflage Uniforms Despite Ban
Officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force and paramilitary agencies are still using camouflage uniforms, about two years after its ban by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), investigations by Daily Trust on Sunday have shown.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on June 12, 2015, announced the prohibition of the use of camouflage uniforms by various security agencies other than the Armed Forces, namely the Army, Navy and the Air Force. All paramilitary agencies using various military fatigue were given up to January 2016 to withdraw such materials from their inventory.
A statement by the then Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, however, added that the police would use the uniform when in joint operation with the military or on a special operation such as specific anti-riot missions. He said the new policy was in compliance with the directive of the National Security Council approving the recommendations of a committee on measures to streamline the use of camouflage uniforms. Olukolade said the measure was in view of the security implications and concerns raised on the clamour, duplicity and proliferation of camouflage uniforms in the country.
According to the statement, “Henceforth, the use of camouflage is therefore restricted to the military and for occasional use by the police. The directive also stipulates that the military is to adopt only two types of camouflage. With this development, the Ministry of Justice, along with law enforcement agencies, has been tasked to ensure that extant laws guiding the use of uniforms in Nigeria are strictly enforced.
“In the same vein, the Office of the National Security Adviser has been vested with the authority to vet and clear any production and supply of camouflage uniforms in Nigeria.
“The proliferation and imitation by criminals and impostors using uniforms, especially the camouflage, have been generating some concern in national security circles. The development has been communicated to all the agencies by the Office of the National Security Adviser.”
About a year and half after the expiration of the window, the paramilitary agencies are still using the prohibited fatigue. Our reporters observed that police officers are still using camouflage uniforms in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, even when they are not involved in any joint operation with the military. Also, in Kaduna State, policemen were seen using the prohibited outfit while going for routine duties in their various stations and commands.
Our reporters observed that police officers involved in the protection of dignitaries are still using the camouflage uniform. Some personnel of other paramilitary agencies, such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), among others, are still using the banned uniforms in defiance of the order.
A source at the NSA’s office explained to our reporter that the agencies were given up to January 2016 to withdraw and restrict the sale and use of camouflage uniforms. The source said the circular banning the use of camouflage also prescribed sanctions for noncompliance, noting that two kinds of camouflage were approved for the armed forces - the Woodland camouflage uniform for operations in the forest belt of Nigeria, and the Desert camouflage for operations in the North-East and other parts the North. For more than a month, Daily
Trust on Sunday tried to obtain comments from the spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Major-General John Enenche, without success. On Friday, April 14, 2017, during the Easter celebrations, General Enenche asked our reporter to give him some time to respond to the matter. He explained that it was a public holiday, and therefore, needed time to find out the position of the military on the matter. He, however, promised to speak after the weekend when he would have gotten the right information. But when he was contacted after the Easter break via his mobile phone, the DHQ spokesperson said he was out of the country and referred our reporter to his deputy, Colonel Mohammed Dole, for comments.
When contacted, Colonel Dole also asked for some time to be able to respond appropriately. He later said the information he got was not sufficient, noting that after consulting with the Director of Information at the Defence Headquarters, it was decided that Daily Trust on Sunday should wait until the director returned to the country.
When our reporter met General Enenche last Thursday at the DHQ, he again asked for more time to respond.
About a year and half after the expiration of the window, the paramilitary agencies are still using the prohibited fatigue