President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of armed forest guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forest reserves from terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs. Announced by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the initiative is a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments, with oversight by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Environment. Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be trained and equipped to carry out forest security operations aimed at flushing out criminals and reclaiming forested areas. Tinubu reaffirmed that his administration would not allow any part of the country to remain under the control of non-state actors.
While the new federal initiative is being widely welcomed, it is noteworthy that a similar approach was adopted in Kogi State as far back as 2017 under former Governor Yahaya Bello. At the time, the state recruited over 300 forest guards to protect its forest reserves and reduce illegal activities such as deforestation and unauthorized logging. Bello emphasized discipline among the guards and tasked them with enforcing forest laws, including measures to ensure environmental sustainability.
The Kogi initiative also encouraged local community participation in monitoring and reporting illegal activities, with an emphasis on preserving the state’s forest resources for both security and economic purposes. Provisions were also made to promote reforestation, such as replacing felled trees with new ones in a regulated manner.
Yahaya Bello, during his tenure, was widely known for prioritizing security. His administration took several steps to tackle insecurity across Kogi State, including community-based vigilance, collaboration with federal security agencies, and the establishment of various state-level security frameworks. His efforts earned him national recognition, including the award of “Most Security Conscious Governor” by various civil society and security advocacy groups during his time in office.
Although the scale and context of Tinubu’s current plan are broader and national in scope, the similarities to Kogi State’s earlier efforts highlight the relevance of local security innovations. It demonstrates how state-level approaches can sometimes inform or predate national strategies, especially in areas like forest protection, where criminal groups have increasingly exploited ungoverned spaces.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Ministry of Environment have been tasked with overseeing and ensuring the full implementation of the initiative.
President Tinubu had earlier warned terrorists that his administration “would not surrender an inch of the country’s territory to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal gangs operating inside the forests.” He vowed that Nigeria “would take back its forests.”
As the federal government rolls out this new forest guard initiative, it serves as a reminder of the need for continuity and coordination between state and federal security measures. While the focus remains on national security, it is equally important to acknowledge earlier attempts by state actors to address similar challenges in their regions.
