By Rismadarvoice Media
December 31, 2025
The Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, has cleared the air on public concerns surrounding a proposed Forest Guard recruitment, stressing that the initiative is entirely different from the Nigeria Forest and Security Service Bill currently awaiting presidential assent.
Dr. Goni made the clarification on Wednesday during a media interaction with journalists at his office in Abuja, amid widespread speculation of an impending nationwide recruitment exercise.
According to him, the Forest Guard initiative is an existing but previously dormant programme, domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Park Service, and should not be confused with the proposed Nigeria Forest and Security Service, which is yet to receive legal backing.
“The Forest Guard initiative should not be mistaken for the Nigeria Forest and Security Service. That proposal is still awaiting presidential assent, while this programme already exists under the National Park Service,” he explained.
Dr. Goni said the renewed activation of the Forest Guard concept forms part of the Federal Government’s strategy to address insecurity, particularly criminal activities linked to forests, game reserves, and protected areas across the country.
He noted that the President’s objective is to promote collaboration between federal and state governments by strengthening grassroots intelligence gathering, ensuring timely information sharing with relevant security agencies.
“This initiative is about community participation. People who understand the terrain will help provide credible intelligence which can be shared with appropriate government institutions to maintain peace, security in forest reserves and protected areas,” he said.
On recruitment, the Conservator-General clarified that there would be no public advertisement or open application process. Instead, traditional rulers, political leaders at the community level will identify individuals of proven character and discipline.
“These individuals must be well-behaved members of their communities, selected based on trust, commitment. They will be engaged on a voluntary basis, properly trained before deployment,” he stated.
He added that the training will be conducted by a multi-agency team comprising the National Park Service, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigerian Army, and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Dr. Goni further disclosed that a pilot scheme is currently ongoing in seven states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Niger, Adamawa, and Kwara to evaluate the effectiveness of the Forest Guard initiative.
He said that upon successful assessment of the pilot phase, the programme would be expanded nationwide to cover forest and game reserves across the country.
