By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
ABUJA — The Federal Government has disclosed that more than 7,000 Forest Guards have been trained in 11 states as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security in Nigeria’s forests, national parks and protected areas across the country.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, made the disclosure on Friday during the commemoration of the 2026 World Ranger Day held at the National Park Service Headquarters in Abuja.
Lawal said the Forest Guard initiative, approved by the Federal Government in collaboration with sub-national governments, is being implemented in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser and is targeted at training about 130,000 personnel nationwide to complement the efforts of park rangers in securing the country’s natural heritage.
The minister noted that rangers have increasingly found themselves confronting not only poachers and illegal loggers but also terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements who use forests as hideouts and operational bases.
According to him, available records from the International Ranger Federation showed that Africa recorded 58 ranger deaths between June 2025 and May 2026, with Nigeria accounting for 15 of the fatalities, representing about 22.4 per cent of the continent’s total.
Lawal said the Federal Government had moved beyond conservation, tourism and research activities to actively secure national parks, forest reserves and surrounding communities, citing the role played by the National Park Service in the rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State.
He revealed that the government had commenced a review of the National Park Service Act to improve conditions of service, enhance remuneration and boost the morale of officers and men of the Service.
The minister also announced plans to deploy surveillance cameras across all national parks and establish a central command system to facilitate real-time monitoring of protected areas and improve the safety of park personnel.
Earlier, the Conservator General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, described the celebration as significant because it marked the 20th anniversary of World Ranger Day and provided an opportunity to honour the courage, sacrifice and dedication of rangers protecting Nigeria’s natural heritage.
Goni paid tribute to fallen rangers who lost their lives in the line of duty across Old Oyo, Kainji Lake, Chad Basin, Cross River, Kamuku and Okomu National Parks. He also commended rangers involved in the rescue of 44 abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State and called for greater investment in ranger welfare, modern technology, intelligence gathering and operational support to meet emerging conservation and security challenges.
Also speaking, Chairman of the National Park Service Governing Board, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, announced the promotion of 606 personnel comprising 302 senior and 304 junior officers, as well as the harmonisation of the Service’s ranking structure with those of other paramilitary agencies to improve staff welfare and career progression.
Ononogbu also disclosed that CPI Justina Undelikwo and CPI Dorcas Sambo received Distinguished Service Awards, while PPI Ibrahim Adamu Etsu emerged Ranger of the Year and APW I Abubakar Hammangabdo received the Medal of Valour Award for exemplary service.
The event, themed “Rangers: Guardians of a Changing Planet,” drew conservation stakeholders, government officials and development partners, who reiterated the need for stronger support for rangers and greater investment in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation across the country.
