The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has charged newly trained forest guards in the state to conduct themselves professionally and avoid all forms of intimidation and harassment while discharging their duties.
The governor gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of 987 trained forest guards held in Yola, the state capital.
Naijaonpoint reports that Fintiri, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Kaletapwa Farauta, urged the guards to see their appointment as a privilege and a call to service.
In a statement released after the ceremony, the governor stressed that the forest guards must uphold discipline, diligence and professionalism in their engagement with members of the public.
He said the guards were expected to work closely with host communities and earn their trust through responsible conduct.
“You should see yourselves as privileged citizens called to serve your communities and the nation. Discharge your duties with diligence, discipline and professionalism,” Fintiri said.
The governor commended the Office of the National Security Adviser for coordinating and supervising the forest guard initiative, describing it as a strategic intervention to address security challenges in forested areas.
He also appealed to residents of Adamawa State to cooperate with the guards deployed to their various communities, assuring them of the state government’s continued support for the programme.
“On my part, I wish to assure you of the continuous support of the Adamawa State Government for this initiative. May God increasingly grant us peace and security in Adamawa, Nigeria, and the world,” the governor added.
Forest Protection Key to National Security – Ribadu
Speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, described the forest guard initiative as a fusion of environmental protection and national security objectives.
Ribadu noted that safeguarding Nigeria’s forests was critical to reclaiming ungoverned spaces, protecting lives and securing the future of communities affected by criminal activities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the success of the programme and its alignment with the Federal Government’s security agenda.
“I assure President Bola Tinubu of our absolute commitment to ensuring that this programme delivers measurable security, environmental and socio-economic outcomes, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Ribadu said.
The NSA disclosed that he had ordered the immediate payment of salaries and allowances for the graduating forest guards, alongside their deployment to ensure operational readiness and boost morale.
“I have ordered the immediate payment of salaries and allowances, and deployment of the graduating forest guards to guarantee operational readiness and boost their morale,” he stated.
Ribadu further explained that the recruitment of the forest guards followed a nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu, who directed the military and police to recruit additional personnel to strengthen security across the country.