Six personnel were honored Friday by the Nigerian Forest Security Service, which promised to fight insecurity by improving operational effectiveness and monitoring.
Joshua Osatimehin, the NFSS Commander General, spoke at the event on behalf of Yinka Obadofin and stated that the decorations were meant to inspire the officers to achieve better outcomes.
“We want to motivate them to work harder. The purpose of bringing these seasoned officers into the NFSS is to help us develop the command, he stated. They have demonstrated excellence in their particular disciplines.
“The officers will help strengthen the command and make the forests inhospitable to criminals,” Osatimehin continued.
“Under our watch, criminals who are hiding in the bush and hibernating comfortably there will find the forests uncomfortable.”
“We are expecting Mr. President to assent to our bill soon, so we chose them based on their wealth of experience to help us build the command and contribute to national development,” he added.
Ibrahim Njodi, the Secretary to the Government of Gombe State, praised the officers and encouraged them to take full use of the opportunity. He was represented by Abdullahi Bello, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs.
He remarked, “We extend our congratulations to the recently decorated officers.”
Njodi went on, “Send your demands and ideas and assure them of the backing of the current administration. To guarantee the safety of our forests, the Gombe State Government will assist you.
Assistant Commander General Duties Isa Zambukk also spoke, highlighting the NFSS’s special mission to protect the woods.
“We are just getting started, but our mandate is clear: to ensure the forests are secured,” he said. Almost all of Nigeria’s borders are covered in woods, although many people may not recognize their significance.
He continued, “There are natural benefits for us to derive from them. Bandits use the forests to perpetrate evil against innocent Nigerians.”
“Now, the President is saying that if we can secure the forests, then the borders will be secure as well.”
“Bandits abduct innocent people into the forests for ransom. Once they realise we are present with them, I believe they will reconsider.”
Urging the assent of the NFSS law, Zambukk added, “One thing is certain: we know what we want to achieve, and Mr President knows exactly how to achieve it. All he needs are those who will truly be part of the security outfit.”
“For example, the Nigerian Army has specific roles, the Police have theirs, but the forests have been left out.”
“So, who will guard the forests? That is why bandits have the opportunity to act with impunity. But once this bill is signed, the difference will be clear.”
Shittu Jafa’aru, from the Erosion Control Unit in the North-East, expressed optimism that the decoration would motivate him to improve his services.
“Based on my training, I will work to ensure the forests are conserved for future generations.”
“The most important thing is not only protecting the forests from terrorist groups and bandits who may hide there, but also making sure the forests are safe for our children to use to their full potential,” he continued.
“As environmentalists, we will use technology more and more to track the depletion of natural resources and monitor the forests,” he added. To determine which areas are being drained, we will use remote sensing.
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