In response to the heightened insecurity in the country, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a national forest guard system across the country. The initiative will require the recruitment of 130,000 well-trained security operatives to protect and secure the country’s 1,129 forest reserves. It was approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. It also empowers each state in the country to recruit between 2,000 to 5,000 forest guards, depending on the state’s financial capacity to remunerate the guards. The recruitment and training of the 130,000 forest guards will be supervised by the office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of the Environment.
The establishment of the forest guards is a welcome development, although it is long overdue. Reports about the activities of herdsmen, bandits and terrorists show that different forests in Nigeria are homes and encampments for these scoundrels. When they abduct their victims, they take them to the forest and ask for ransom. If the ransom is not paid, the victims are either slaughtered or buried alive. Therefore, it is believed that the establishment of forest guards will mitigate the activities of terrorists and allow Nigerians to access their farms. With the active presence and effective operation of the forest guards, it would be difficult for marauding terrorists to carry out their dastardly acts, which have pulverized the country’s social spaces, affecting food production by farmers.
Indeed, insecurity in the country has become intractable, defying every effort by the government. The establishment of the forest guards is a good take-off point because it shows the government’s commitment to combat insecurity headlong. That each state in the country will be directly involved in the recruitment and training of the forest guards makes it a grassroots initiative because able-bodied youths in each state who understand the terrain and forests will be recruited.
However, the office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of the Environment have an onerous task to ensure that there is an adequate background check on potential recruits to ensure that the forests are entrusted to the best hands. Also, there must be transparency in the recruitment process so that it is not hijacked by politicians and other people with vested interests. The recruitment and training of the forest guards must not be politicised or used as a scheme to patronize political associates and relations.
Also, the forest guards must not interfere in civil matters or be used by anyone to settle personal scores. They must face the responsibility for which the scheme was established. We believe that the forest guards will complement the efforts of other security agencies in curbing insecurity across the country. Also, the federal government should stipulate the qualifications and experience of potential forest guard applicants. This will streamline the recruitment process so that it does not become an all-comers affair. Those seeking to become forest guards must be of a certain age and have some experience that would help them to be efficient in their work.
No doubt, the activities of the forest guards will restore confidence among farmers and encourage many Nigerians to go into farming. That way, food security would be guaranteed and production would increase exponentially. The activities of terrorists and bandits have seriously affected the production and distribution of farm products. The little farm products that get to the markets come with high prices and many Nigerians cannot afford them. The forest guards should be adequately funded and maintained.
They should be well equipped to perform optimally in the assignment given to them. It would make no sense to establish forest guards without adequate funding and proper maintenance. If we consider that terrorists and bandits use sophisticated weapons, then the forest guards would be expected to use better arms and ammunition to confront the bandits. Above all, the forest guards should be given adequate support by the government and other stakeholders. Securing our forests is one of the best ways to ensure that the country is secure. The government should address the numerous challenges of other security agencies in terms of training, manpower and equipment. There is urgent need to prioritise their remuneration and welfare.