By Emmanuel Kwada
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a National Forest Guard initiative to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests, aiming to flush out terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs using these areas as hideouts. The announcement, made public on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, by presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare, marks a significant step in addressing the nation’s escalating security challenges.
In a statement shared via his official X account, President Tinubu directed that the forest guards be well-trained and armed to effectively carry out their primary duty of eliminating criminal elements from Nigeria’s vast forest reserves.
The initiative, a collaborative effort between federal and state governments, will be overseen by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment to ensure swift and full implementation.
Each state is mandated to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards, depending on their capacity, with projections estimating over 130,000 operatives nationwide,
The recruitment process, which has already commenced, is expected to employ thousands of young Nigerians, providing both job opportunities and a boost to national security. Each state is mandated to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards, depending on their capacity, with projections estimating over 130,000 operatives nationwide, including the Federal Capital Territory.
President Tinubu emphasized the initiative’s importance in reclaiming Nigeria’s forests, which have become safe havens for terrorists and bandits. “The country will take back its forests,” he declared, reiterating his administration’s resolve not to cede “an inch” of Nigerian territory to criminal elements. This follows earlier pledges made during a visit to Katsina State, where he vowed to deploy advanced surveillance and technology to combat insecurity, particularly in the North-West, where forests like the Rugu Forest host over 100 armed camps.
The move has been hailed as a strategic response to rising banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism, which have severely impacted local economies. For instance, Katsina State recorded zero foreign direct investment in the first nine months of 2024 due to pervasive insecurity. Tinubu noted that “investment is cowardly” and will not flow to areas plagued by banditry, underscoring the need for a secure environment to foster economic growth.
The country will take back its forests
The initiative builds on existing state-level forest guard programs, with some states already operating units under their agriculture ministries. These will now be armed and upscaled under a unified national strategy, with the Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service playing a key role in coordination.
As recruitment and training begin, Nigerians await the impact of this bold security measure, which promises to restore peace and protect the nation’s critical forest reserves.
