Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards boosting national security and environmental protection by passing the Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Forestry Guards Training Institute, Ankpa, Kogi State (HB. 2588) for Second Reading.
The Bill, sponsored by Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, Member representing Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency, seeks to establish a highly specialized institution to train a professional and dedicated corps of Forestry Guards equipped to address the complex challenges facing Nigeria’s forest reserves.
Key Highlights of the Bill
The essence of HB. 2588 is rooted in the urgent need to secure Nigeria’s vast forest ecosystems and leverage them for national development rather than allowing them to serve as hideouts for criminal elements.
Institutionalizing Forest Security: The Institute will provide a permanent, specialized framework for training personnel in forest protection, conservation techniques, ecological enforcement, and intelligence gathering. This is critical for national security, as many forest reserves are currently exploited by bandits, kidnappers, and illegal miners.
Addressing Ecological Threats: Beyond security, the Institute will focus on training guards to combat illegal logging, prevent deforestation, and enforce environmental laws, which directly aligns with Nigeria’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change mitigation.
Strategic Location: The choice of Ankpa, Kogi State, is deliberate, offering a central location to train personnel who will be deployed across the country’s various ecological zones, ensuring regional balance in manpower development.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture for further legislative action.
