The Nigerian Army has appealed to citizens to avoid wearing military uniforms illegally, emphasizing that respecting the uniform is an important part of strengthening national security and building trust between the military and the public.
Speaking during a media chat with Defence correspondents in Abuja, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Maj. Gen. Gold Chibuisi, said the misuse of military attire by unauthorized persons not only violates the law but also aids criminal activities.
He said, “I’m a bit surprised that most briefs we give in our programmes, we always talk about this issue of uniform because it keeps recurring.
“It’s against the law of the land. If you are not in the armed forces or the security agencies, to use their uniform — whether you love it or not — is a crime.”
He stressed that the law must be respected to maintain the integrity and safety of the armed forces, warning that offenders could face jail time.
“If you like the military, join the military,” he said. “Don’t wear our uniform if you are not one of us.”
Highlighting the security risks, Chibuisi noted that criminals increasingly exploit military uniforms to commit crimes, making it harder for civilians and security agencies to identify genuine soldiers.
“Currently, there are a lot of criminals using military garb to perpetrate crime,” he said. “If people keep dressing like that, how do you differentiate between a criminal and a genuine soldier?”
He urged families and communities to help with sensitization from the home level. “If somebody you know is not in the military comes out in the morning, and he wants to jog or drive to Shoprite wearing our uniform, you tell your boy, ‘Wait, you don’t join the army, remove this thing abeg.’ Make sure they don’t catch you.”
Maj. Gen. Chibuisi explained that soldiers are trained to arrest civilians caught wearing military gear and hand them over to the police for prosecution. “All these other things that come with it — harassment or rough handling — are not right,” he acknowledged. “And we are doing sensitization on them. Those that we find, that we get evidence against, we always sanction them sternly.”
He also emphasized the importance of preventing the offense before it occurs: “One side is for our soldiers to do the right thing when they see it, but the other side is for civilians not to do it at all. Spare us from all that.”
Drawing a sharp distinction between Nigeria and other countries, Chibuisi added, “This is not America. You can’t say because someone wears it in America, you can wear it here. Moreover, the challenges we are having here, I don’t think they have them in America.”
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61st anniversary: NAF to open bases to Nigerians for guided tours, aircraft inspections, others
As part of the activities commemorating its 61st anniversary, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Friday said it would hold a nationwide Open Day event, where members of the public would visit NAF bases across the country from 1 to 15 May 2025.
According to a statement Friday by NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the special initiative, themed “Come See Your Air Force,” aims to foster stronger civil-military relations and offer Nigerians a unique opportunity to witness the inner workings of their Air Force firsthand.
According to him, participating NAF units in Makurdi, Bauchi, Yenagoa, Kaduna, Enugu, Ikeja, Katsina, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Oshogbo, Minna, the Federal Capital Territory, Victoria Island, Yola, Benin, Kainji, Kano, and Jos will open their gates to welcome civilians from all walks of life on specific days to be announced by the different NAF units.
He said visitors can look forward to; guided tours of facilities, close-up inspections of aircraft and platforms, historical exhibitions including photo galleries and mini-museums and interactive sessions with NAF personnel.
Others are documentary screenings and engaging video displays, souvenir distribution to commemorate the experience and outreach programmes in schools, including career talks to inspire young Nigerians
He noted that these Open Day events serve as a key component of the broader anniversary celebrations set to hold officially from 13 to 20 May 2025.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, highlighted the importance of public trust and engagement.
“This Open Day is a reflection of our commitment to transparency, national unity, and pride in service. We invite all Nigerians to come, see, and connect with their Air Force.”