President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment and immediate recruitment of armed forest guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests, as part of renewed efforts to tackle insecurity and flush out terrorists and criminal elements hiding in forested areas across the country
According to a statement by Sunday Dare, CON, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, the forest guard initiative will be a joint security operation between the federal and state governments.
The guards will be well-trained and armed to effectively carry out their duties.
The President has also directed the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment to oversee the full implementation of the initiative.
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Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be recruited into the new outfit as part of the administration’s efforts to enhance security and provide employment opportunities.
President Tinubu reiterated his stance that his government would not cede any part of Nigeria’s territory to criminal gangs.
“The country would take back its forests,” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying, adding that his administration is committed to denying terrorists, bandits, and other armed groups the safe havens they currently exploit within Nigeria’s vast forests.
