National Park Service Clarifies Forest Guards Recruitment Process

The Conservator General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, has provided clarity on concerns surrounding a potential recruitment exercise for Forest Guards. According to Dr. Goni, the Forest Guard initiative is a distinct entity from the proposed Nigeria Forest and Security Service, which is still awaiting presidential assent.

Dr. Goni, made the clarification during a media chat with journalists in his office on Wednesday in Abuja

He explained that the Forest Guard concept, domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Environment through the national Park Service, aims to revive a dormant initiative to combat insecurity in the country. By reviving this concept, the President seeks to foster collaboration between the federal and state governments to gather intelligence and share it with relevant government organizations, ultimately maintaining peace and security in forest reserves and protected areas.

Dr. Goni further explained that the recruitment process for Forest Guards will not follow the traditional route of public advertisements. Instead, traditional rulers and political heads in local communities will identify well-behaved individuals with a passion for the job. These individuals will be enlisted on a voluntary basis and trained by a team of instructors from the National Park Service, Nigerian Police Force, DSS, Office of the National Security Advisor, Nigerian Army, and NIA.

A pilot scheme is currently underway in seven states – Sokoto, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Niger, Adamawa, and Kwara – to test the effectiveness of the Forest Guard initiative. If the pilot scheme proves successful, the President plans to extend the initiative to manage the forest reserves and game reserves across the country.

The Conservator General assured that no recruitment process has commenced for Forest Guards, and any claims of ongoing recruitment are premature. The National Park Service is working closely with state governments to identify suitable individuals for the Forest Guard program, which aims to enhance security and conservation efforts in Nigeria’s forest reserves and protected areas.