Defense Minister again bans use of unauthorized military camouflage

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has restated the ban on unauthorized use of military camouflage, stating that only the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police Force are allowed by law to use military camouflage while on joint operation.

The Director of Information and Public Relations in the Defence Ministry, Henshaw Ogubike, in a statement, said the Minister’s call is coming at a time when criminals have taken advantage of military and para-military gears to perpetuate crime in the country.

According to him, the government ban on other ParaMilitary Agencies from the use of military camouflage was to bring sanity to the system and also as a way of checkmating criminal activities.

“The present situation does not support the use of military camouflage by people who are not authorized or not personnel of DHQ,” Matawalle

The Minister said the use of camouflage uniforms by various security agencies other than the Armed Forces namely, the Army, Navy and the Air Force remain banned.

He, however, gave exception to the use by the Nigerian Police Force, which he said can only use it, when on joint operation with the military operation.

The Minister said the enforcement of the ban is crucial in view of the security implications and concerns raised on the clamour of duplicity and proliferation in the country.

“The measure is aimed at checking the crime rate in Nigeria. If we identify those who are authorized to use the camouflage, we can quickly differentiate them from criminals who intend to confuse us,” he said.