SAN FRANCISCO, October 03, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army has banned the wearing of unauthorized Army uniforms, accoutrement and kits by ex-Students of Nigerian Military School Zaria (aka Ex-Boys) in civil institutions, the Army said in a statement on Saturday.
The statement said: “The illegal practice of wearing Nigerian Army uniforms and kits by Ex-Boys apart from obvious security implications, impacts negatively on the image of Nigerian Army. It is pertinent to reiterate that wearing of military uniforms or kits on campus by anyone is absolutely unlawful. More worrisome, is the fact that most of the offenders are Ex-students who have deserted the Army, and are not legally entitled to have military uniforms or items within their possessions.
“It is particularly important to mention that the Ex-Boys who left Nigerian Military School from 2012 when the school ceased to be a military institution, are expected to surrender their military uniforms and kits after graduation. The Nigerian Army wishes to state that illegal possession of military accoutrement is punishable under sections 109,110 and 251 of Nigerian Criminal Code.
“Consequently, the Nigerian Army is working with other security agencies to apprehend defaulters/impostors in all civil institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. The security departments of civil institutions and the general public are also requested to report suspected impostors to nearest Nigerian Army formations or Security Agencies.
“In another development, the COAS Barracks Investment Initiative Programme (COAS BIIP) Sensitization exercise is to commence from 5th – 9th October 2015 in all cantonments and barracks across the country. The investment scheme is an initiative of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai as part of his welfare drive for officers and soldiers by engaging their spouses and dependants living in the barracks on income yielding agricultural ventures such as animal husbandry, fish farming, poultry and other profit making agricultural activities. The programme is aimed at empowering them financially and it is open to all spouses, dependants of serving and late Nigerian Army personnel living within the various Nigerian Army barracks and cantonments across the country.
“Empowering barracks personnel is expected to contribute to the nations economy apart from providing the beneficiaries with a means of sustenance,” the statement by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said.
