7,000 Forest Guards Graduated To Strengthen Environmental Security In Northern Nigeria
The Federal Government has officially graduated 7,000 newly trained Forest Guards in a ceremony held simultaneously across seven northern states on Saturday. The parades took place in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Park Service. The move is part of ongoing efforts to boost environmental security and strengthen the protection of Nigeria’s forest reserves and national parks. The Forest Guards are expected to play a key role in tackling illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and other environmental crimes, while also supporting broader national security operations. Graduates underwent specialised training provided jointly by security and environmental agencies to prepare them for duties in forest communities and protected areas. Officials highlighted that the joint effort aims to improve intelligence-sharing, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and ensure a stronger security presence in remote locations prone to criminal activity. The new Forest Guards are scheduled to be deployed to their respective duty posts in the coming weeks.
