FG Approves National Forest Guard Initiative to Secure Nigeria’s Forests

The Federal Government has greenlit the creation of a specialized National Forest Guard unit designed to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from terrorists, bandits, and criminal elements.

Immediate Recruitment and Deployment

Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare announced Wednesday that recruitment for the forest guards will begin immediately, with deployment planned across all 1,129 forests nationwide.

Strategic Security Measures

The newly established guards will receive specialized training and be armed to:

• Flush out criminal networks
• Secure forest territories
• Prevent use of forests as criminal hideouts

Joint Government Effort

Dare emphasized this as a collaborative security initiative between federal and state governments, with implementation oversight by:

• Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA)
• Ministry of Environment

Dual Benefit: Security and Employment

The program will create thousands of jobs for young Nigerians while enhancing national security. President Tinubu previously vowed his administration would “not cede an inch of Nigerian territory to criminal elements.”

For more details, read the original article on The Citizen.