The Deputy Commander-General of Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Amb. Dr. Johnny Metchie, has advocated that NHFSS be converted into a National Security Service, Nigeria Forest Guard Services (NFGS) in order to safeguard ungoverned territories for sustainable economic development of the nation.
Metchie stated that this will serve as a potent solution to kidnapping, banditry and other crimes perpetuated through forests, bushes and related ungoverned territories in Nigeria.
Metchie added that apart from many other losses to Nigeria too numerous to count, each time people are kidnapped and taken into the bushes, the nation continues to lose billions of naira and Forex from possible FDI due to bad image and negative reputation caused by kidnaping, banditry, separatism, extremism and related crimes.
He decried a situation where insecurity that has become rampant in Nigeria due to the unmanned, ungoverned territories has led to many companies leaving the country; and stressed that Nigeria cannot afford not to have Forest Guard at this critical time
DCG Metchie commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for the efforts committed to add greater impetus to the fight against insecurity in Nigeria, especially considering Government’s moves to establish new Security Agencies in the country while he was speaking on the heels of a recent statement credited to Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) at the public hearing on the Bill to establish the Nigeria Mines Ranger Service in Abuja.
The Civil Defense boss was of the view that the Federal Government should use funds that could be applied for establishment of new Security outfits to fund the NSCDC.While generally, the view of the Civil Defense CG has been seen as myopic, self-centeredness and not for overall security wellbeing of the nation, the NHFSS DCG expressed surprised that one, who is overwhelmed by a task does not appear to want to be helped or assisted to execute the task.
He recalled the question posed to the NSCDC CG during the public hearing by Distinguished Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, on whether the Corps has done a good job as assigned to it in security of the nation and the answer that chorused was Nooooo!!! from the public at the National Assembly Hearing.
Metchie urged the NSCDC CG to learn from the wise response and counsel by the Distinguished Senator that at this age and critical time in the history of our country, we should rise above personal sentiments, selfishness and aggrandizement to take decisions that will be for the interest of the nation and the nation only. Avering that there is strong need for more hands to come into the security architecture of the nation, the Distinguished Senator worried that he cannot visit his community without having butterflies in his stomach, as he could be kidnapped any moment.
This translates to the fact that more hands must be deployed. Metchie, therefore stated that we should not sacrifice our motivation and opportunities to bring more hands on deck and to work to curb insecurity in Nigeria at the altar of personal interest and material gains.
Opinion leaders have long identified as a major challenge in combating insecurity in Nigeria, the huge ungoverned territories, which are mostly in the forests, bushes, deserts, as well as in creeks, swampy areas and other difficult terrains that are unmanned due to inadequate capacity. “This is the capacity and gap we as Forest Guards want to fill,” said Metchie.
According to DCG Metchie, Nigeria Forest Guards Services, which Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) is transitioning to, is the missing link, gap and lacuna in the Nigeria’s security architecture, which unless incorporated into national security, the challenges will continue to ache Nigeria because of the security vulnerability in bushes, forests and other ungoverned areas.
