The Commander General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), Dr Wole Joshua Oshotumehin, has described the passage of the NFSS Bill by both chambers of the National Assembly as a landmark development in the fight against insecurity.
Reacting to the bill’s passage, Oshotumehin urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fulfil his commitment to nationwide security by assenting to the legislation, stressing that the law would enhance the protection of the country’s forest assets.
He highlighted Nigeria’s inadequate forest policing, noting that only 3.8% of the nation’s forests are secured, far below the global minimum requirement of 25%. Given the rising insecurity in the country, he said presidential approval of the bill was necessary to strengthen security in forested areas, which often serve as hideouts for criminals.
“With the passage of this bill, it mandates the security of our forests in the area of gathering local intelligence for the military, police, and other relevant authorities to maintain peace and stability in our country,” Oshotumehin stated.
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He further emphasised that the NFSS has a distinct mandate and has received specialised training from various security agencies to support intelligence gathering in forest areas.
“Police have trained us on managing security and security challenges for grassroots transformation. In forested regions, civil defence has also trained us on organisational management, while the DSS has equipped us with intelligence-gathering skills,” he said.
He added that the National Park Service and environmental agencies had trained NFSS personnel to detect the illegal movement of criminals within forested regions, while the NDLEA had provided training on combating drug trafficking, which he noted was linked to 80% of crimes in the country.
Oshotumehin assured Nigerians that the NFSS would be fully mobilised in the public interest, reinforcing national security efforts.
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