Following allegations of plans by some senior officers to cash in on the distribution of the new Police Neon Blue uniform to junior officers for financial benefits, the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar has directed that it be issued free of charge.
The new uniforms, which were hitherto meant for only senior police officers before Abubakar assumed office, is now to be distributed to all police personnel, including inspectors down to constables.
It was gathered that 67,500 pairs of the uniform, 75,000 new belts and 90,500 new black berets had been released by force headquarters to commands across the country for distribution to rank and file.
The new uniform, which came into being during the tenure of Sir Mike Okiro as the Inspector General of Police, will eventually replace the existing black uniform which at some point will be phased out.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, explained that the release was the first batch of the uniform, noting that there would be other batches until all the over 300,000 personnel of the police force, were kitted.
Mba said the IG directed the distribution to all personnel as part of his determination to build a people friendly police force, as well as help checkmate duplication or faking of the former uniform by hoodlums and criminals.
“In line with Police regulations and long standing traditions of the force, the uniforms are to be issued free of charge to all police personnel.
“The IG directed that the new set of uniform must be evenly distributed and they are for Inspectors, rank and file,” he said.
On the advantages of the blue synthetic uniform over the former, he said “the neon synthetic blue is easy to wash, dries very quickly, is less absorbent of heat and is climate friendly. “Moreover, blue is recognized internationally as Police colour and it conforms to international best practices.”
