In a renewed effort to secure Nigeria’s forests and natural reserves, the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has successfully trained over 24,000 officers across the country.
The training program, which spans all six geopolitical zones, is aimed at bolstering forest protection, combating illegal logging, and improving intelligence gathering in the face of growing environmental and security threats.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Abuja, Commander General Dr. Joshua Osatimehin commended the dedication of the newly trained officers and stressed the urgent need for legislative support. He appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the NFSS Establishment Bill into law, emphasizing that formal legal backing would enhance the agency’s effectiveness and nationwide coordination.
“This is not just about protecting trees. Our forests are under siege—from armed bandits, illegal miners, and environmental vandals. The trained guards will act as the frontline defenders of our ecological heritage,” Osatimehin said.
He also noted that without the passage of the bill, the agency remains limited in its operational scope despite increasing national demand for forest security.
The NFSS was created as a special paramilitary outfit to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s forest zones, which have become hotspots for criminal hideouts and environmental degradation.
If enacted, the Establishment Bill will grant the NFSS full statutory authority to operate as an independent security agency with powers to arrest, detain, and prosecute offenders violating forest protection law