NFSS will be game-changer in Nigeria’s security structure – Deputy Commander-General

The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) has the capacity to strengthen the country’s security framework, especially in hard-to-reach forested areas, according to its Deputy Commander-General, Dr. John Metchie.

Metchie made the assertion on Saturday in Abuja at the conclusion of a training programme for the NFSS Intelligence, Surveillance, and Provost units.

He emphasized the pivotal role of intelligence in ensuring national security, stressing that forest guards possess valuable on-ground information capable of addressing insecurity in remote regions.

“I keep saying that we are the missing link and I stand by that belief that forest guards are the missing link of the security architecture of Nigeria,” he said.
“I want to also take this opportunity to thank Mr President for his role in all this.”

“This is because when Mr President came into power, he promised the Nigerian people that he was going to do something about security.”

“Now the bill is on his table and Nigerians are watching and we are begging him to please do the needful and sign the bill immediately, so that we can assist the existing security agencies.”

Metchie also lauded the strategic leadership of NFSS Commander-General, Dr. Joshua Osatimehin, particularly for his efforts in pushing for legal recognition of the service and organizing capacity-building for its personnel.

He noted that with the skills gained from the training, the officers were better prepared to fulfill the agency’s mandate.

Also speaking, Dr. Stephen Okwori, a Security, Safety and Crime Management Consultant, highlighted the inevitability of crime in society and the importance of government intervention to mitigate its impact.

Okwori maintained that signing the NFSS Bill into law would bolster intelligence operations, particularly in underserved rural communities where violent crimes are prevalent.

“So when the bill establishing the NFSS is assented to, they (service) will now cover that gap and complement the effort or support the conventional security services that we have in the area of intelligence gathering.”

“I will tell you that most of the failures of intelligence with our conventional security service is because there is no local intelligence security service to cover that gap in the area of generating local intelligence for the military and other securities agencies to work with,” he said.