AMN Report: No, Nigeria Is Not Removing Pockets from Police Uniforms
Recently, a story has been circulating across social media platforms in Nigeria claiming that the Federal Government is set to remove pockets from police uniforms to stop officers from hiding bribe money.
AMN has investigated this claim and can confirm that it is false.
What We Found
The idea of pocketless police uniforms was never proposed in Nigeria.
Instead, this concept comes from Kenya, where lawmakers introduced the Bribery Amendment Bill, 2024.
The bill proposes that traffic police officers wear uniforms without pockets and that CCTV cameras be installed at traffic checkpoints. The goal is to reduce opportunities for bribery and enhance accountability.
This proposal is still under consideration in Kenya’s parliament and has nothing to do with Nigeria.
The Real Situation in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the current discussions around police uniforms are not about design changes but rather about alleged corruption in procurement contracts.
Reports suggest that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun approved a ₦6 billion uniform contract, allegedly split into smaller deals to bypass procurement laws.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have petitioned anti-corruption bodies to investigate the matter.
However, none of these allegations involve the removal of pockets from uniforms or any design change to fight bribery.
Why This Matters
Misinformation spreads quickly, especially when tied to sensitive issues like corruption and policing.
Sharing unverified claims risks misleading the public.
It can also distract from the real accountability questions facing Nigeria’s police institution.
Conclusion
The claim that Nigeria is removing pockets from police uniforms to tackle bribery is FALSE.
The story originates from Kenya (2024), not Nigeria.
In Nigeria, the real issue is about alleged corruption in uniform procurement, not uniform design.
As AMN, we urge the public to always verify before sharing and rely on credible news platforms for accurate information.
