Kogi Governor Ododo Launches National Forest Guards

On Saturday, at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre in Lokoja, Governor Ododo, represented by Comrade Joel Salifu, presided over the passing-out ceremony for the first batch of the National Forest Guards. He described the event as a significant step in Kogi State's commitment to securing lives and property.

The governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the National Forest Guards program, which aims to bolster community-based security. He highlighted that security is foundational to his administration's development agenda, enabling progress in various sectors such as agriculture, education, and healthcare.

Of the 539 individuals who began training, 530 successfully completed the eight-week program and are now prepared for deployment. Governor Ododo urged the new Forest Guards to view their uniforms as symbols of responsibility and to respect citizens' rights while collaborating with traditional rulers and local communities.

He emphasized that their success should be measured by the peace they maintain and the confidence they inspire in the populace.