President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially approved the establishment of the Forest Guards of Nigeria, a new security initiative aimed at combating terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs operating within the nation’s forests.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who made the announcement via his official X (Twitter) account on Wednesday, the President has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to commence immediate recruitment of personnel for the new outfit.
“The President directed that the forest guards be well-trained and armed to carry out their primary duty of flushing out terrorists and other criminals hiding in the forests for illegal activities,” Dare stated.
The Forest Guards are expected to take charge of over 1,129 forests across the country. Recruitment will be a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments, ensuring widespread participation and effective coordination.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment have been tasked with overseeing the full implementation of the initiative, including training, deployment, and operational logistics.
This move is projected to create thousands of new jobs for young Nigerians, strengthening national security while addressing unemployment challenges.
President Tinubu, while reaffirming his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on insecurity, stated that his government “would not surrender an inch of the country’s territory to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs operating inside the forests.”
He emphasized that Nigeria “would take back its forests.”
🔹 Key Highlights:
- Establishment: Forest Guards of Nigeria
- Coverage: 1,129 forests nationwide
- Oversight: NSA & Ministry of Environment
- Recruitment: Immediate, collaborative with state governments
- Focus: Anti-terrorism, anti-banditry, forest protection
- Employment: Thousands of young Nigerians to be engaged
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