News
Tinubu Govt Deploys 7,000 Forest Guards To Flush Out Bandits, Terrorists
The Federal Government has concluded plans to deploy no fewer than 7,000 newly trained forest guards to seven pilot states as part of renewed efforts to curb insecurity and reclaim Nigeria’s vast ungoverned forest spaces.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Saturday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, during the graduation ceremony of the forest guards who had undergone intensive training.
Ribadu said the guards would be deployed immediately to communities worst hit by insecurity, particularly areas around forests that have become havens for criminal elements.
“We are fully aware of Nigerians’ concerns about insecurity across the country. Accordingly, the newly trained Forest Guards will be deployed immediately to all the beleaguered communities in the highlighted states, particularly around forested and ungoverned spaces,” the NSA said.
According to Ribadu, the primary responsibility of the forest guards is to gather actionable human intelligence, support ongoing security operations, and restore government presence in areas where it has been weak or completely absent for years.
He noted that the guards are expected to work closely with existing security agencies in tackling banditry, insurgency, terrorism, and other criminal activities being perpetrated from forest hideouts across the country.
“The mandate of the Forest Guards is essentially to tackle bandits, insurgents, terrorists, and other criminal elements that are exploiting Nigeria’s vast, ungoverned forest spaces,” he stated.
Ribadu explained that the guards earned their graduation after completing an intensive three-month training programme conducted simultaneously in the seven pilot states of Adamawa, Borno, Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Yobe.
He said the training was designed to prepare them for the harsh realities of forest operations.
“Trainees underwent extensive physical and mental conditioning, including endurance exercises, obstacle-crossing drills, and long-range patrol simulations to prepare them for sustained forest operations,” he said.
The NSA recalled that the trainees were mobilized under the Presidential Forest Guards initiative, which was launched by President Bola Tinubu in May this year as a collaborative effort between the Federal Government and the states.
According to him, the programme reflects the administration’s resolve to address insecurity through proactive and intelligence-driven measures.
He added that instructors and coordinators for the training were drawn from several security and intelligence agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, National Park Service, and the National Intelligence Agency.
Ribadu disclosed that the current deployment marks only the pilot phase of the initiative, stressing that the Federal Government is already working towards expanding the programme nationwide.
“The pilot phase of the forest guard’s rollout provides a solid foundation for a nationwide deployment after more guards are accordingly recruited,” he said.
“As we speak, processes have commenced to train new batches across additional states, ensuring rapid expansion and comprehensive national coverage.”
In his remarks, the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, charged the graduating forest guards to see their assignment as a call to national service.
He urged them to carry out their duties with professionalism and respect for civilians.
Fintiri advised the guards to treat residents of host communities with civility, noting that winning the trust of locals would be critical to the success of the initiative.
Naija News reports that the deployment of the forest guards is expected to boost security operations in forested areas that have long served as hideouts for criminal gangs across the country.
News
Nigerian Gov Announces Fresh Public Holiday for Workers Across State
The Ekiti State Government has declared Friday, June 19, 2026, a work-free day for public servants in the state.
Naija News reports that the government said the holiday was to enable workers to travel to their respective voting centres ahead of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, June 20.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary to the Head of Service, Janet Ajibola.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has graciously declared Friday, 19th June, 2026, as a work-free day for all public servants across the state,” the statement read.
Ajibola said the directive was addressed to commissioners, special advisers, the Secretary to the State Government, permanent secretaries, the Clerk of the House, heads of tertiary institutions, the Registrar of the High Court of Justice, general managers, executive secretaries and heads of departments.
“For the purpose of public safety and continuity of essential services, hospitals and health centres, fire service departments and other essential service providers are exempted and shall continue to provide appropriate services,” the statement added.
The Permanent Secretary urged heads of exempted essential institutions to ensure uninterrupted service delivery during the election period.
She also directed chief executive officers and accounting officers across state parastatals to ensure compliance and wide circulation of the directive.
News
BREAKING: Mixed Reactions as Tinubu Announces Fresh Appointment
The news of Kunle Elebute by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the chair of the Governing Board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN). has started generating reactions from Nigerians.
Kunle Elebute, a renowned chartered accountant and financial management consultant, as the chair of the Governing Board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN).
This was disclosed in a statement by the presidency on Thursday, June 18, adding that his appointment, adding that his appointment was meant to strengthen corporate governance, deepen accountability and transparency, as well as enhance the confidence of investors within the financial reporting ecosystem of Nigeria.
According to The Punch, Elebute is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) with over 40 years of professional experience in Nigeria, West Africa and the world at large. Elebute had earlier served as the senior partner and chief executive officer of KPMG Nigeria, the KPMG West Africa chairman and the chairman of KPMG Africa.
Also, he had served on the regional and global boards of KPMG, such as its Global Board Audit Committee.
In the statement, he was described as a highly respected professional with wide experience in financial advisory services, auditing, strategic transformation, risk consulting and corporate governance.
Below are some of their comments:
Segun Benson said the appointment should have gone to another qualified person in another region of the country: “I would have expected Mr President to appoint a qualified person from another region.. no shades.”
Dimeji Lawal said that Nigerians are on the lookout for the effect of the appointment: “The appointment is one thing. The impact of the appointment is what Nigerians will be watching.”
Danjuma claimed that Tinubu’s appointments are following a particular pattern of the late former president Muhammadu Buhari: “I like Tinubu for this, he is following the footsteps of Buhari, who fulanised Nigeria with his appointments.”
Shamsuddeen commended the appointment of Elebute by President Tinubu, describing it as wonderful: “That’s another wonderful selection by President Tinubu GCFR by appointing Mr Elebute. Congratulations sir.”
News
Tinubu Makes Fresh Top Appointment
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Kunle Elebute as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
Naija News reports that the appointment was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

Mr. Kunle Elebute
Elebute is a former Chief Executive Officer of KPMG Nigeria and previously served as Chairman of KPMG Africa.
During his illustrious career, he also served on KPMG’s regional and global boards, including its Global Board Audit Committee.
He is an accountant and economist with several decades of experience in auditing, financial advisory, corporate governance, and business consulting.
“Mr Elebute’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as the FRCN advances key institutional priorities, including ongoing engagements under the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership and broader efforts to align Nigeria’s corporate reporting framework with international best practices.
“The Federal Government is confident that his wealth of experience, leadership, and governance expertise will further strengthen the Council’s mandate and support the Renewed Hope Agenda’s objective of building a more transparent, competitive, and investment-friendly economy,” the statement added.
The Financial Reporting Council is the agency responsible for setting and enforcing accounting, auditing, actuarial, valuation, and corporate governance standards in Nigeria.
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