President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given approval for the establishment of a national forest guard system aimed at enhancing security across Nigeria’s forests.
The initiative is designed to combat the growing threat of terrorists, bandits, and criminal elements using forested areas as hideouts.
The President also directed the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to commence the immediate recruitment of personnel for the new outfit.
The move is part of a broader security collaboration between the federal and state governments.
This development was made public on Wednesday by Mr. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
According to him, the forest guards will be well-trained and fully armed to carry out their duties of flushing out criminal elements and safeguarding forest reserves across the country.
The initiative, which is expected to provide thousands of job opportunities for Nigerian youths, will be jointly implemented by the NSA’s office and the Ministry of Environment.
President Tinubu had previously declared that his administration would not allow any part of Nigeria’s territory, including its forests, to remain under the control of criminal gangs.
He reiterated his commitment to reclaiming and securing forest areas, stressing that national security remains a top priority.