The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) has announced that the recent assent to the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) Bill will significantly aid President Bola Tinubu in fulfilling his renewed agenda focused on enhancing security across the nation.
Wole Joshua Osatimehin, the Commander General of the NFSS, made this statement while expressing gratitude to Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the National Assembly’s passage of the bill into law.
Osatimehin addressed journalists in Abuja on Friday, emphasizing that the law’s enactment is a monumental achievement for Nigeria under President Tinubu’s administration.
He stated, “I want to begin by commending the Nigerian Senate, led by Akpabio, for their commitment to resolving Nigeria’s long-standing security issues through legislative action. The passage of the Nigerian Forest Security Bill is a landmark decision for this administration.”
Osatimehin continued, “We are thankful for the collaboration and synergy between the executive branch and the legislature. During the election campaign, one of the key points of our President’s renewed hope agenda was to address internal security, particularly in forested regions, which is vital for boosting our country’s socioeconomic activities.”
He highlighted the ongoing challenges in forest security, noting that farmers often have to pay ransoms to access their land due to insufficient security presence in forested areas, which hampers local intelligence gathering.
“Nigeria currently has one of the lowest forest police ratios globally, with only 3.8 percent of our forests policed compared to the global standard of 25 percent. The new bill empowers forestry officials to work in collaboration with relevant authorities, which will greatly enhance internal security in our forested regions,” Osatimehin concluded.
NFSS will help Tinubu achieve renewed hope agenda in security – Osatimehin
