President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of forest guards to secure the country’s 1,129 forests.
According to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, the President directed that the forest guards be well-trained and armed to perform their duties.
The forest guards are expected to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding in the forests for criminal activities.
The recruitment is a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments.
Dare said, “the office of the NSA and the Ministry of Environment have been directed to take charge and ensure full implementation.”
He added that thousands of young Nigerians were expected to be employed as personnel of the outfit.
Dare said that President Tinubu had 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.
The President vowed that the country would take back its forests.
