Ribadu bans camouflage uniforms from Immigration, NSCDC, other para-military

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has reportedly instructed the Federal Ministry of Interior to promptly retrieve all camouflage uniforms from security and law enforcement agencies under its jurisdiction.

According to a circular dated January 16, 2024, signed by Ribadu and addressed to the Honorable Minister of Interior, the directive highlights concerns about the widespread use of camouflage uniforms by various security agencies in Nigeria.

The circular, titled “Observation on Proliferation in the Use of Camouflage Uniforms by Other Security Agencies in Nigeria,” specifically mentions the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Prison (Correctional) Service, and the Federal Fire Service as organizations affected by the directive.

These organizations have been instructed to cease the use of camouflage uniforms in response to the directive from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The NSA emphasized that the continuous proliferation of camouflage uniforms among these agencies makes them readily available to criminals and impostors, thereby exacerbating the already challenging security situation in the country.

Citing a recent incident in Plateau State where attackers were reportedly clad in camouflage uniforms, Ribadu underscored the necessity of enforcing the ban on such uniforms for security agencies other than the Armed Forces and the Police during special occasions or joint operations.

Ribadu urged the Interior Minister to implement stringent measures to ensure strict compliance with and enforcement of the ban on camouflage uniforms by all security and enforcement establishments under his supervision. The directive explicitly permits the Armed Forces and the Police to use camouflage uniforms only on special occasions.