The Bill to establish the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) (SB 477) passes Third Reading in the Senate. The bill seeks to detect and prevent crimes and illegal activities within the forest.

Presenting the report on the Bill at the plenary session of Tuesday, 12 April 2022, Sen. Kasshim Shettima (APC: Borno) stated that the NHFSS shall be responsible for preventing and combating forest crimes, preventing bush and forest fires, investigating and arresting person suspected to be involved in forest crimes. In addition, he explained that the NHFSS shall maintain an Armed Squad empowered to bear firearms deployed by the Office of the Commandant-General of the Service.

Sen. Shettima said that the NHFSS if established, shall work with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies as forest security network due to their knowledge of the terrain, provide relevant information on encroachment and partner with stakeholders on community policing.

According to Sen. Shettima, the Bill establishes a Council charged with the responsibility of harmonizing all groups and associations of hunters, protecting the large expanse of forests, organizing basic development courses and training for members of the Council, fixing the terms and conditions of service and renumeration of members and employees of the service, subject to the approval of the Minister of Interior.

Speaking on the nomenclature of the Bill, Sen. Shettima noted that the Committee amended the long title of the Bill to read as the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) to reflect Nigeria’s present security realities as opposed to the Nigerian Hunters Council Bill proposed in the original provision of the Bill.