FRESH findings by this newspaper have revealed that bureaucratic bottlenecks and unresolved inter-agency disagreements are slowing down the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the recruitment of forest guards, raising growing concerns among security stakeholders and vulnerable communities nationwide.
Despite the President’s clear approval of the initiative in May 2025, more than seven months later, the proposed national forest policing programme has yet to take off, even as insecurity continues to worsen, particularly in forested and rural areas that have become havens for bandits, kidnappers and terrorist groups.
President Tinubu had approved the recruitment of forest guards as part of a renewed strategy to reclaim Nigeria’s forests from criminal elements. Under the plan, each state was directed to recruit between 2,000 and 5,000 forest guards, a move expected to significantly boost local intelligence gathering and rapid response in hard-to-reach areas.
The decision followed a crucial February 2024 meeting between the President and state governors, where both tiers of government agreed to jointly recruit forest rangers and invest in their training, logistics and operational support.
In a further push to fast-track the programme, President Tinubu, on December 10, directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately expedite the training and arming of the forest guards as part of intensified efforts to curb rising insecurity nationwide.
However, investigations by this newspaper indicate that disagreements between the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) both of which are jointly responsible for coordinating the recruitment and implementation have stalled progress.
According to multiple security sources familiar with the process, the two agencies are yet to agree on a clear operational framework covering recruitment procedures, command structure, training standards and deployment strategy.
A senior official of the Nigerian Forest Security Service, who spoke to News Point Nigeria on condition of anonymity, said the optimism that greeted the presidential announcement had gradually faded.
“We were all excited when the recruitment plan was announced, but that excitement is wearing off because there has been no clear communication. The delay is largely due to bureaucratic bottlenecks within the NSA and the DSS,” the official said.
He explained that the directive had become trapped in layers of administrative approvals and inter-agency coordination.
“There are several clearances, documentation processes and institutional protocols that must be completed. The major challenge has been translating the President’s directive into concrete action because of overlapping responsibilities and slow coordination among security agencies,” he added.
The official warned that the delay was increasing anxiety in communities most exposed to attacks, especially those located near forest corridors.
“There is growing agitation across the country. Insecurity is worsening, particularly in forested regions that have effectively become safe havens for bandits and kidnappers. Without trained forest guards on the ground, criminals continue to exploit these gaps,” he said.
He also dismissed reports suggesting that recruitment had quietly commenced.
“About two weeks ago, there were reports that recruitment had started secretly, but that is false. Officials from the NSA’s office invited our commander and asked him to issue a rejoinder to debunk the claims,” the source disclosed.
Similarly, the National Secretary of the Professional Hunters Association of Nigeria, Igyem Dalandi, attributed the delay to uncertainty over the structure of the programme, especially regarding recruitment procedures and responsibility for salaries between the Federal and state governments.
Dalandi noted that the lack of clarity had left existing forest guards, professional hunters and other community-based security actors in limbo.
“There is already an existing forest guard structure across the country. What the President likely intended was to strengthen and formalise it, not to create an entirely new organisation. That is why hunters are currently stranded,” he said.
He added that the association had not been consulted on either recruitment or remuneration.
“As of now, the government has not reached out to us. We have not been carried along or contacted for our input,” Dalandi stated.
Dalandi also expressed concern that the initiative could be hijacked by state governments pursuing independent security arrangements.
“Many governors are already pushing their own security outfits as forest guards. In Plateau State, for example, people are currently undergoing training at the Civil Defence training school, with their passing-out scheduled for this Saturday,” he revealed.
According to him, hunters, vigilantes and paramilitary groups are increasingly being trained under state-level frameworks, raising fears that the original federal initiative may be sidelined or fragmented.
Reacting to the concerns, the Commander General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service, Joshua Osatimehin, acknowledged the delay but said it was necessary to ensure proper planning and coordination.
“Security matters must be handled carefully to avoid creating new problems while trying to solve existing ones. All relevant agencies are working to address the bureaucratic bottlenecks,” Osatimehin said.
He noted that the forest guard initiative requires extensive collaboration among the military, police and intelligence agencies to ensure effectiveness and avoid jurisdictional conflicts.
“This is a security outfit in the making, and all stakeholders must be properly aligned. Nigerians should expect a more consolidated and pragmatic approach very soon,” he assured.
While acknowledging public frustration, Osatimehin urged patience, insisting that the Federal Government remained committed to the programme.
“People are agitated because of the level of insecurity, and that concern is understandable. But they should give the government more time. The President has approved the initiative; it is now up to the responsible agencies to implement it properly,” he said.
Efforts to get an official response from the Office of the National Security Adviser proved unsuccessful. Calls to the phone line of the NSA’s spokesman, Ismail Garba, indicated it was switched off, while text messages sent to him had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report.