FG GRADUATES OVER 7,000 FOREST GUARDS, SET FOR IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT

Abuja, Nigeria — December 28, 2025

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has announced the graduation of over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, following the successful completion of an intensive three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in May 2025.

The initiative represents a coordinated Federal–State security intervention aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal exploitation and strengthening internal security across vulnerable regions of the country.

Graduation ceremonies were held on December 27, 2025, across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States. The programme is designed to deny terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups sanctuary within forested and hard-to-reach terrains, which have increasingly been used as operational bases for criminal activities.

The training programme was deliberately intensive, structured and demanding, with a focus on transforming loyal and committed Nigerians into agile, disciplined and capable field operatives. The curriculum combined environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies, ensuring a balanced, professional and mission-ready force.

Trainees underwent rigorous physical and mental conditioning, including endurance exercises, obstacle-crossing drills and long-range patrol simulations tailored for sustained forest operations. They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft such as movement techniques, enemy-contact drills, ambush response, rescue operations and coordinated offensive actions aimed at denying criminal elements any form of sanctuary within Nigeria’s forest spaces.

A strong emphasis was placed on ethics, legality and professionalism. The curriculum incorporated extensive training on human rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), gender rights and civilian protection. Arms handling and use-of-force protocols were strictly regulated in line with an Arms Management Manual jointly adopted by all participating agencies.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a decisive step toward restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities across the country.

“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,” Ribadu said.

He confirmed that deployment would commence immediately, with 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,” the NSA stated.
According to ONSA, the training programme recorded a 98.2 per cent completion rate. A total of 81 trainees were disqualified on disciplinary grounds, while two trainees died due to pre-existing medical conditions. All successful participants have been fully certified and cleared for operational service.

The graduating Forest Guards are indigenous to their respective local government areas, a strategy intended to enhance operational effectiveness by leveraging terrain familiarity and community trust in combating banditry, kidnapping and the illegal exploitation of forest resources.

The Nigerian Forest Guard is an inter-agency national security initiative established under the leadership and strategic guidance of the National Security Adviser, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment. Operational coordination is provided by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service, with doctrine and strategic input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Governors and Deputy Governors from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies, including Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, while other states were represented by their Deputy Governors.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment, Ribadu said the initiative would be expanded nationwide as part of sustained efforts to improve security.
“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 in its determination to build a safer and more secure Nigeria,” he concluded.