By Festus Fifen

In a passionate call for deeper civilian-military relations, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Maj. Gen. Gold Chibuisi, has urged Nigerians to see the Nigeria Military Uniforms as National Symbols and not fashion costumes to be worn by anybody.

Chibuisi warned that impersonating military personnel is illegal and could endanger national security.

Reacting to questions during a roundtable with Defence correspondents in Abuja, Maj. Gen. Chibuisi said, ” Nigerians should know that these uniforms are national symbols and they represent the nation. It is not what should be worn by civilians as a fashion statement.”

Speaking further he added that though sometimes people do it out of ignorance, he called for caution as this could send wrong signals to the public.

“Currently, there are a lot of criminals using military uniform to perpetrate crimes. If people keep dressing like that, how do you differentiate between a criminal and a genuine soldier?” he asked.

He called on the media and the public to assist in sensitization efforts, stressing that offenders should be arrested and prosecuted, rather than subjected to extrajudicial treatment

Gen. Chibuisi also used the medium to call on Nigerians to see the military as their own so as to do everything possible to protect it.

In his words, “There is no army that doesn’t want itself to be seen as working for the people. We are the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian people own us. It is your army.”

He stressed the importance of public perception in strengthening national unity, noting that soldiers should be seen as brothers, sons, and neighbors — not as distant or violent enforcers.

“It’s a work in progress, but as we fine-tune the conduct of our personnel and deepen public engagement, things will keep improving, ” Chibuisi said.

Earlier, the President of the Defence Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria, Ismail Musa, pledged journalists’ commitment to responsible, accurate, and balanced reporting of security matters.

“Today’s roundtable is not just for speeches; it’s a call to action. Through our work, we aim to foster a safer, more secure Nigeria,” Musa stated.