Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has announced the enforcement of a new dress code policy for both students and staff, a move the institution says is aimed at promoting modesty and professionalism on campus. The policy was detailed in a special bulletin dated June 16, 2025.

The bulletin, titled “Ahmadu Bello University Dress Code”, was signed by the university management and outlines a broad range of clothing and grooming styles that are now considered inappropriate within the university premises. The code applies to both academic and administrative staff, as well as students.

Among the items banned are shorts, skimpy dresses, tight or body-hugging outfits, transparent clothing, tattered jeans, and tops with obscene messages. The policy also discourages certain grooming styles, such as bushy hair and beards for men, and colored hairstyles and long eyelashes for women.

Additional restrictions include a ban on earrings and plaited hair for male students, ankle chains for female students, and tattoos or body piercings. The use of colored sunglasses without a medical reason, wearing of bathroom slippers to class, and “sagging” of trousers by both male and female students are also prohibited.

The bulletin further warns that failure to comply with the dress code will be treated as misconduct and could attract disciplinary sanctions. The implementation will be overseen by a Dress Code Committee recently reconstituted by the university management.

While the university insists that the policy is intended to foster a respectful and conducive learning environment, it has drawn criticism from some students and staff, who argue that it infringes on personal freedoms and bodily autonomy.