Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, a former member of the House of Representatives and gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, has expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed Forest Guards Program, calling it a timely and strategic intervention in Nigeria’s national security architecture. He also urged that the initiative be modeled after the United States Forest Rangers to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.
Akinlade identified undocumented migration from the Sahel region as one of Nigeria’s most pressing national security threats. Commending President Tinubu’s foresight, he emphasized that the Forest Guards initiative is a step in the right direction towards safeguarding the nation’s vast forest reserves and rural territories.
According to Akinlade, Nigeria’s current security crisis has deep roots in the aftermath of Muammar Gaddafi’s fall in 2011, which led to the disbandment of his formidable 800,000 strong army; comprising only 30% Libyans and 70% foreign nationals from countries such as Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Senegal. He noted that the collapse of Libya’s military apparatus unleashed an uncontrollable wave of arms and combatants across the Sahel, fuelling armed rebellions and terrorism in the region.
“Intelligence reports reveal that Gaddafi had over 29 weapons bunkers scattered across the Sahel. After his death, many of these weapons fell into the hands of insurgents and non-state actors, further destabilizing the region. Nigeria has been a major casualty of that chaos,” Akinlade stated.
He emphasized that only a coordinated and strategic initiative such as the Forest Guards programme can meaningfully curb the violence, especially forest-based criminality like banditry, kidnapping, and illegal migration. If modeled after the U.S. Rangers, the programme would provide a vital, decentralized security buffer that supports the efforts of the Nigerian military and police.
However, Akinlade cautioned against placing the Forest Guards under the operational control of the Nigeria Police or the Armed Forces. Instead, he proposed the creation of a dedicated Federal/State security agency, fully focused on the Forest Guards mandate. He recommended a personnel structure made up of: 20% commissioned officers (graduates) after 9 months of training, 75% non-commissioned officers (school certificate holders) after 6 months of training, and 5% retired military and paramilitary officers to serve as instructors and field experts.
He advised that the Forest Guards Agency be domiciled within the Ministries of Forestry and Agriculture, with mandatory training conducted in partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service to enhance capacity for migrant profiling and forest surveillance. This, he explained, would allow operatives to distinguish between Nigerian and foreign tribal groups—for instance, the Yoruba-speaking populations of Benin Republic and the Sahelian Fulani tribes.
Akinlade further stressed the importance of local inclusion, urging that indigenes, community leaders, and traditional rulers be integrated into the programme’s recruitment and operational structure. The Forest Guards, he argued, must be trained in the use of firearms, drone surveillance, infrared technology, and heat sensors, and be equipped with sufficient logistics to cover forest terrain. They should also possess the authority to apprehend and hand over suspects to relevant security agencies for prosecution or deportation.
Highlighting the economic implications, Akinlade said the program will provide employment across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, stimulate rural commerce, and contribute to local economic development. “This is more than a security initiative; it’s a socio-economic stimulus for underserved communities,” he noted.
He concluded by praising President Tinubu’s administration for its bold investments in national development, including the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, renewable energy projects, agricultural reform, aviation, the blue economy, and critical road infrastructure.
Hon. Akinlade called on all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, or faith to support the Forest Guards programme. He also urged the National Assembly to treat the programme as a matter of urgent national importance and to enact necessary legislation to back its full implementation.
Signed:
Akinleye Olu-Phillips
Media Consultant to Hon. Adekunle Akinlade (Triple A)
Date: Monday, 16th June 2025
