The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) on Friday decorated six newly appointed officers, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing national security through improved forest surveillance and operational capacity.
Speaking at the decoration ceremony, Commander General Joshua Osatimehin—represented by Yinka Obadofin—said the move was aimed at motivating the officers and leveraging their experience to strengthen the command.
“These are well-experienced officers who have excelled in their respective fields. Bringing them into the NFSS is to assist us in building the command,” he said. “Criminals hiding comfortably in the forests will soon find them inhospitable under our watch.”
Osatimehin added that the officers were carefully selected for their expertise and would play key roles as the service awaits presidential assent to its enabling bill.
The Secretary to the Government of Gombe State, Ibrahim Njodi—represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abdullahi Bello—commended the officers, urging them to maximize the opportunity.
“We congratulate the newly decorated officers. Present your proposals and demands; the Gombe State Government will support efforts to keep our forests safe,” he said.
Assistant Commander General (Duties), Isa Zambukk, stressed the NFSS’s mandate to secure Nigeria’s forests, which he described as critical to both environmental and national security.
“Virtually all of Nigeria’s borders are covered by forests. Bandits exploit these areas to harm innocent citizens. If we can secure the forests, then the borders will be secure as well,” he explained.
Zambukk urged swift presidential assent to the NFSS bill, noting, “The Army and Police have clear roles, but no one has specifically protected the forests. That gap is what NFSS is designed to fill.”
Shittu Jafa’aru, from the Erosion Control Unit in the North-East, expressed optimism about the service’s mission and vowed to contribute significantly.
“Beyond securing the forests from criminals, we must ensure they are preserved for our children,” he said. “As environmentalists, we will increasingly adopt technology, including remote sensing, to monitor forest health and track resource depletion.”
With the decoration of these officers and the anticipated legal backing, the NFSS aims to transform Nigeria’s forests into zones of safety and sustainability, free from the grip of bandits and terrorists.
ADEOLA KUNLE
