Edo State Government will start training 500 newly recruited forest guards from June 5, the state's Commissioner for Forestry, Lesi Doyle, announced on Friday in Benin City.
The recruits passed profiling and medical screening exercises before selection. Doyle said the training programme will equip them with the skills needed to protect the state's forest reserves and combat illegal logging, poaching, and other forest crimes.
"We are committed to strengthening forest management and conservation in Edo State," Doyle said. "These guards will play a critical role in protecting our natural resources and ensuring sustainable forestry practices."
The state government recruited the guards as part of efforts to address the rising threats to its forest ecosystems. Illegal activities have depleted forest cover in several parts of the state, prompting the administration to beef up forest security with a dedicated workforce.
The training will be conducted at a facility in Benin City and will cover areas such as forest patrol techniques, wildlife protection, law enforcement, and community engagement. The programme is expected to last several weeks.
EdoState's Commissioner for Environment and Sustainable Development, Bosun Tijani, commended the initiative. "This is a step in the right direction. Our forests are vital to our environment and economy, and we must protect them," he said.
The recruits will be deployed across forest reserves in the three senatorial districts of the state after training. The government said it plans to conduct quarterly refresher courses to keep the guards updated on best practices in forest management.
Training begins June 5 at the government facility in Benin City, with the first batch of guards expected to complete the programme and commence forest patrols by August.
