Over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards from seven frontline states to strengthen security graduated from training and had been deployed to protect Nigeria’s forests from criminal exploitation.
The guards completed a three-month intensive training programme under the Presidential Forests Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May, 2025.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is responsible for the administration of the new paramilitary security outfit.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation spokesperson, Rabiu Ibrahim, in a statement on the Ministry’s X handle, said the programme was designed to “strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups sanctuary within forested and hard-to-reach terrains.”
The graduation ceremonies, took place on Saturday December 27, 2025 in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States.
According to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the initiative was a measure toward restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities.
Ribadu said “these Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“They will hold ground, gather intelligence and support security agencies in reclaiming territories previously overtaken by criminal elements.”
The trainees were seen through training integrated environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies. They also underwent rigorous physical and mental conditioning, including endurance exercises, obstacle-crossing drills, long-range patrol simulations, and tactical fieldcraft.
The guards were also trained in ambush response, rescue operations, and coordinated offensive actions to deny criminal groups sanctuary within forested areas.
The NSA said the guards would be deployed immediately, adding that all certified guards would proceed directly to their duty posts.
He said “there will be no delay between graduation and deployment. Salaries and allowances will commence immediately, and every certified guard will proceed directly to assigned duty posts.”
Eighty one trainees were disqualified for discipline and two died due to pre-existing medical conditions.
Ribadu said successful participants who have been duly certified and cleared for operational service are expected to leverage terrain knowledge and community trust to combat banditry, kidnapping and illegal forest exploitation.
The Nigerian Forest Guard is an inter-agency initiative coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service, with operational input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Navy, Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Ribadu said “by protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people. The Federal Government will not relent. This initiative will expand nationwide as part of our sustained effort to build a safer and more secure Nigeria.”
The governors and their Deputy from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies.
