FG graduates over 7,000 forest guards, begins immediate deployment
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, with immediate deployment to forested and hard-to-reach areas across the country to counter terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The graduation followed the successful completion of an intensive three-month training programmeunder the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched in May 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The programme, coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is designed as a joint Federal–State security intervention to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from criminal exploitation.
Graduation ceremonies were held simultaneously on Friday in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a decisive move to restore state authority in areas long exploited by criminal elements.
“These Forest Guards are not just uniformed personnel. They are first responders, community protectors and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture,” Ribadu said.
According to him, the guards would hold ground, gather intelligence and support ongoing security efforts to reclaim territories previously overtaken by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
Ribadu confirmed that deployment would begin immediately, stressing that there would be no gap between graduation and operational duty.
“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,” he said.
The training programme was described as rigorous and professionally structured, integrating environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies.
Trainees underwent intensive physical and mental conditioning, including endurance drills, obstacle navigation and long-range patrol simulations to prepare them for sustained forest operations.
They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft, ambush response, rescue missions and coordinated offensive actions aimed at denying criminal groups sanctuary in forest zones.
The curriculum placed strong emphasis on ethics, professionalism, human rights, International Humanitarian Law and civilian protection, while arms handling followed strictly regulated use-of-force protocols under an agreed Arms Management Manual.
The programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate, with 81 trainees disqualified on disciplinary grounds. Two trainees reportedly died due to pre-existing medical conditions.
All successful participants were certified and cleared for operational deployment.
The Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, a factor expected to enhance terrain familiarity, intelligence gathering and community trust.
The initiative is an inter-agency national security programme established under the strategic guidance of ONSA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, and operationally coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service.
It also draws doctrine and operational input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure unity of command and operational effectiveness.
Governors and Deputy Governors from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies, including Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, while other states were represented by their deputies.
Ribadu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the initiative nationwide.
“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people,” he said.
