Why Tinubu’s forest guard initiative deserves full support
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of the establishment of a forest guard corps marks a pivotal step in Nigeria’s long and difficult battle against terrorism, banditry, and organized crime.
With over 1,129 forest reserves and national parks spread across the country, many of which have devolved into havens for violent non-state actors, this move signals a renewed commitment to reclaiming Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces and protecting its natural and economic assets.
These forested areas, originally intended as national environmental treasures and biodiversity reserves, have for years become operational bases for armed groups.
According to a 2021 statement by Dr. Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of the National Park Service, these forests are now among the most vulnerable zones in Nigeria’s security architecture. They serve as hideouts for insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, illegal miners, and loggers, all of whom exploit the state’s limited surveillance capacity to operate unchecked.
The human cost of this insecurity is staggering. From Kaduna to Katsina, Zamfara to parts of Niger and Benue, rural communities have suffered repeated attacks, resulting in mass displacement, destruction of farmland, school closures, and thousands of deaths.
The economic toll is just as grave. Persistent insecurity in forest-adjacent regions is deterring agricultural investment, obstructing food production, and driving inflation. Nigeria also suffers lost revenue from illegal logging, while its reputation in the global investment community continues to be stained by stories of violence and lawlessness.
The forest guard initiative proposes to deploy trained and armed personnel into these territories to establish a visible security presence, gather intelligence, patrol forested zones, and intercept illegal activities. This proactive step demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s strategic understanding that fighting terrorism must move beyond conventional urban and highway security operations, it must go to the roots.
To succeed, however, the initiative must prioritize several elements simultaneously. Federal-state collaboration is essential, as security in Nigeria is constitutionally shared.
The forest guard corps should function in synergy with state-backed outfits like Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in the South-East, and civilian joint task forces in the North-East, with state governments empowered to assist with recruitment, logistics, and local intelligence gathering.
Recruitment and training must be robust, focusing on individuals with intimate knowledge of local terrains such as retired military officers, forest rangers, and local hunters, all of whom should receive specialized training in counterinsurgency, surveillance, communication, and navigation, coupled with proper equipping—drones, GPS devices, firearms, and radio systems.
To ensure seamless coordination, the corps must be integrated into Nigeria’s larger security ecosystem, including the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Nigeria must also adopt modern surveillance technologies such as satellite imagery, motion detectors, and infrared scanners to monitor forest activity and provide real-time intelligence for rapid deployment.
Communities living near the forests must be actively engaged, serving as partners in the initiative through community policing, local security networks, and regular briefings. The success of the forest guards also requires a firm legal and policy foundation.
A national legislative framework should define their mandate, command structure, rules of engagement, and accountability mechanisms to prevent inefficiency and abuse.
Addressing insecurity cannot rely on force alone. Many people involved in illegal activities such as poaching and logging are driven by poverty. Therefore, socio-economic interventions such as agro-support programs, rural development projects, and job creation schemes must complement security efforts to reduce the appeal of criminal networks and build community resilience. By protecting forests, Nigeria can also restore its environmental integrity, reduce deforestation, and meet its international climate commitments.
President Tinubu’s forest guard initiative reflects more than a response to criminal activity; it is a long-overdue reassertion of state authority over one of the most contested and neglected spaces in the country. It must be transparent, well-funded, periodically reviewed, and independently monitored to avoid becoming another unproductive bureaucracy.
If executed effectively, this initiative can redefine Nigeria’s security landscape, secure rural livelihoods, restore ecological balance, and win back confidence in government.
This is the moment to reclaim Nigeria’s forests not just for safety, but for sovereignty, sustainability, and economic recovery.
