The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has announced the successful training of over 24,000 new recruits as part of efforts to bolster forest security and enhance national intelligence operations.

Commander General of the NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin, disclosed this during the closing ceremony of a five-day National Capacity-Building Workshop held concurrently across the country’s six geo-political zones. The workshop, the second quarterly training exercise for 2025, focused on refresher courses, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration.

“This year’s second quarter training has been a huge success. We have trained more than 24,000 new recruits across the federation,” Osatimehin said.

“These men have been screened by the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and traditional institutions before undergoing compulsory refresher courses conducted by various security agencies.”

According to the NFSS boss, the training took place in strategic locations across the country, with 6,836 operatives trained in the FCT, 4,122 in Plateau, 6,856 in Gombe, and over 9,000 in the South East.

He explained that the programme benefitted from active support and lectures delivered by personnel of the Nigeria Police, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the military, who trained NFSS officers on actionable intelligence, forest surveillance, and crisis response strategies.

Call for Presidential Assent

Osatimehin used the occasion to renew calls for President Bola Tinubu to sign the NFSS Establishment Bill into law. The bill, which has already been passed by the National Assembly, would grant the agency the full legal authority to operate nationwide.

“We are using this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency, the President, to assent to the bill establishing the NFSS.

“This will formalise our operations and give our officers the confidence and legal backing to operate decisively against criminals within Nigeria’s forests.”

A Call to Duty

Addressing the new recruits, Osatimehin urged them to serve the country with honour, integrity, and courage, stressing the urgent need to protect Nigeria’s forests from growing threats such as illegal logging, banditry, and kidnapping.

“Nigerians need heroes, and these officers must wear their uniforms with pride and honour,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Dr John Metchie, Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence), assured citizens of improved security outcomes in forested regions and appealed for public cooperation and support in the fight against insecurity.

The NFSS, which was established as a specialised agency to safeguard Nigeria’s forests and rural communities, has continued to push for stronger legal recognition amid rising concerns over deforestation and forest-based criminality.