The Federal Government of Nigeria has graduated over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, marking a major milestone in its effort to reclaim the nation’s forests from criminal exploitation and strengthen internal security.
The graduation followed the successful completion of an intensive three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative, launched in May 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The programme is being implemented through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as a coordinated Federal–State security intervention.
Graduation ceremonies were held simultaneously on Friday, December 27, 2025, across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States. The initiative is aimed at denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups sanctuary within forested and hard-to-reach terrains across the country.
The training programme was deliberately designed to be intensive, structured and demanding, with the objective of transforming loyal and committed Nigerians into agile, disciplined and capable field operatives. The curriculum combined environmental conservation principles with advanced security competencies to produce 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, to prepare them 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, equipping them to effectively deny criminal elements any form of sanctuary in Nigeria’s forests.
Ethics, legality and professionalism formed a core part of the training. Significant emphasis was placed on human rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), gender rights and the protection of civilians. Arms handling and use-of-force protocols were strictly regulated in accordance with an Arms Management Manual jointly agreed upon by all participating agencies.
Speaking at the graduation ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a decisive step towards 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 designed to enable them to leverage their knowledge of local terrain and community trust in countering 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 being provided by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service.
The programme also draws doctrine, operational alignment and strategic input from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ensuring unity of command, clarity of purpose and operational effectiveness.
Governors and Deputy Governors from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies, including the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, while other states were represented by their Deputy Governors.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the initiative, Ribadu said the programme would be expanded nationwide as part of sustained efforts to secure the country.
“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. This initiative will expand nationwide as part of our sustained effort to build a safer and more secure Nigeria,” he concluded.
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