The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has announced, more than 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards have graduated and are ready for immediate deployment.
The new recruits were pulled from seven States, which are: Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi – they graduated after successfully completing a three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May, 2025.
This was announced via a Press Release on Saturday 27 December, 2025, signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, making his speech at the ceremony, described the Forest Guards as “community protectors, and a critical layer of Nigeria’s security architecture”.
The Press Release reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has announced the graduation of over 7,000 newly recruited Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states, following the successful completion of an intensive three-month training programme under the Presidential Forest Guards Initiative launched by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in May 2025.
“The initiative represents a coordinated Federal–State security intervention aimed at reclaiming Nigeria’s forests from criminal exploitation.
“The graduation ceremonies were held on 27 December 2025 across Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States. The programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by denying terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups sanctuary within forested and hard-to-reach terrains.
“They were also trained in tactical fieldcraft, including movement techniques, enemy-contact drills, ambush response, rescue operations, and coordinated offensive actions—equipping them to deny criminal elements any form of sanctuary within Nigeria’s forest spaces.
“Arms handling and use-of-force protocols were strictly regulated in line with an Arms Management Manual jointly agreed upon by all participating agencies.
“Speaking at the ceremonies, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, described the initiative as a decisive step toward restoring state authority and protecting vulnerable communities.
““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.”
“The NSA confirmed that deployment will 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,” he stated.
“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, and operationally coordinated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Park Service.
“Governors and Deputy Governors from the seven participating states attended the ceremonies.”
