ARMY BANS SOLDIERS FROM WEARING KHAKI UNIFORM

The Nigerian Army headquarter, in Abuja has banned its officers and men from wearing the popular old khaki green uniform.

To this end, it has directed all formations and units of the army, across the country, which still have the khaki green uniforms, to return them to the Nigerian Army Depot, in Zaria.

To ensure strict compliance with the new orders, the army headquarters has directed its corps of military police to not only arrest any officer or men who disobeys the orders but also bring him or her to book.

However, the ban on the use of the khaki green uniform does not affect officers and men serving at various army training institutions in the country.

Saturday Sun gathered that although the ban on the use of khaki green uniform has been on for nearly 20 years now, it finally took effect on January 14, 2010, following a memo from the office of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Abdulrahaman Bello Dambazau.

The memo containing the ban, signed by Brigadier-General M.A. Koleosho, on behalf of the COAS and dated January,14,2010 was copied to the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) the various divisions of the Nigerian Army, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre (ICC), NACC, NACA, DALS, among others. It directed the commanders to stop their personnel from wearing the khaki green uniform.

The letter, entitled: 'Ban on Use of Khaki Green,' reads: 'I am directed to inform you that with immediate effect (WEF), all personnel are to desist from sewing uniform with khaki green, as only Depot NA personnel are authorized to use khaki green and for training purposes only.

'All formations with backload stock of khaki green in their stores are to forward them to Depot, NA immediately with the description of quantity and inform this HQ.'