The Federal Government has graduated over 7,000 forest guards drawn from seven frontline states under the presidential forest guards initiative.
The programme, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, was launched in May 2025 by President Bola Tinubu to reclaim forested areas from criminal elements.
Graduation ceremonies were held on December 27 across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
The initiative is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups sanctuary in forests and hard-to-reach terrains.
The forest guards underwent an intensive three-month training programme combining environmental conservation principles with advanced security and field operations.
According to the government, the training included physical and mental conditioning, long-range patrol simulations, obstacle-crossing drills, and tactical fieldcraft.
The curriculum also covered ambush response, rescue operations, coordinated offensive actions, and sustained forest patrols.
The programme placed strong emphasis on ethics, legality, and professionalism, including human rights, international humanitarian law, gender rights, and civilian protection.
Arms handling and use-of-force protocols were regulated under an arms management manual agreed upon by participating agencies.
Speaking at the ceremonies, National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu described the initiative as a decisive step towards restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities.
“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.
“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,” Ribadu said.
The government said the programme recorded a 98.2 percent completion rate, with 81 trainees disqualified on disciplinary grounds.
It added that two trainees died during the training due to pre-existing medical conditions, adding that all successful participants were certified and cleared for operational service, the government said.
The forest guards are indigenous to their local government areas, enabling them to leverage terrain familiarity and community trust.
Governors and deputy governors from the participating states attended the graduation ceremonies.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Ribadu said the initiative would be expanded nationwide.
“By protecting our forests, we are securing our territory. And by securing our territory, we are protecting our people,” he said.
“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,” Ribadu added.
