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CG Osatimehin updates Environment Minister as NHFSS transforms to Nigeria Forest Security Service

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The Commander General (CG) of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service, NHFSS, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin, has updated the Honourable Minister for Environment and Ecological Management, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on the activities of the Service, saying that the major mandate of the organization is to protect the forests from being used by unscrupulous elements to commit crimes and criminalities.

Osatimehin stated this recently during a courtesy visit to the Minister in his office and said contrary to misconceptions in some quarters, operatives of the Service are not involved in the traditional hunting and killing of animals but committed to the protection and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem which the criminals also destroy in their nefarious activities.

Dr. Osatimehin also informed Minister Abbas Lawal that the name of the organization has been changed from Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) to Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), in compliance with the letters of the Bill being tidied up by the national assembly, adding that Section 24, subsection 17 of the Bill directed that all traditional hunter bodies are to be subsumed into the Nigerian Forest Security Service. He said that the physical paraphernalia of the Service would be corrected after the Bill has been passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

The Commander General told the Minister that Security in Nigeria’s forest and other ungoverned areas, is very crucial to achieving economic and social gains that abound in the environment, especially in the forested areas of the country.

He said the Service was set up to play complimentary role, alongside the Police, the Military, Office of the NSA and other major security organizations in hunting down criminals through intelligence gathering and sharing as well as physical confrontation of criminal elements with the aim of preventing them from using the forests in the country as safe havens to perpetuate all kinds of crimes, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and separatism, among others.

He said though the foundation membership of the group was from hunters, the Service has migrated from traditional hunting to the identifying, pursuit and arrest of criminals operating from and within the forests, adding that their grassroots spread, robust and fearless capabilities are added advantage in carrying out their duties and operations in the difficult forest areas.

He told the Minister that about 12.2% of Nigeria’s geographical landmass, which is about 11,089,000 hectares of land, is forested. Of this space, he observed that 2.9% or about 326,000 hectares is classified as primary forest, which he averred is the most biodiverse form of forest.

He therefore, stressed that Nigeria forested area is vast and rich enough to support economic growth through agriculture, tourism, mining and solid minerals, as well as other environmental activities that can boost Gross Domestic Products, adding that the huge economic gains will accrue to the nation through dedicated and efficient security in the forested areas of Nigeria.

Osatimehin emphasized that with the presence of dedicated security service in the forest, environmentally harmful activities like illegal logging of trees, poaching of animals, bush burning and other negative activities that have destabilized the natural equilibrium of the environment would also be curtailed and assured that Nigeria will be better place among the comity of nations that have set up relevant structures for environmental sustainability to reduce global warming in line with global climate change protocols.

Speaking while welcoming the Commander General and his team, the Honourable Minister, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, expressed readiness to support the vision of the management of Nigerian Forest Security Service, saying he had always opposed anything that has to do with killing of animals and other creatures living in their natural habitats through gaming, poaching and other activities that have caused the depletion of various natural species of the forest.

He agreed with the NFSS management team that Nigeria needs additional security body that is specifically dedicated to fighting crimes and criminalities in the forested areas and praised the vision of the Senate and the House of Representatives in changing the name to Nigeria Forest and Security Service as according to him, securing the forest would help to protect the country’s ecosystem as well as conserve the environment.

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NiMet DG Anosike urges service providers to move beyond institutional compliance to measurable impacts on citizens

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The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has called on public institutions to move beyond regulatory compliance and certifications to delivering measurable results that create lasting value for citizens.

 

The DG/CEO of NiMet, who was represented by the Director, Engineering and Technical Services, Engr. Hamid Olayinka Abdulkareem, made the call during his keynote address at the 3rd National Quality Improvement Summit and Awards, organised by the Quality Improvement Institute of Nigeria (QIIN) in Abuja on Thursday 12 November 2026. Speaking on the theme, “Quality: Powering Performance – Moving Beyond Compliance to Measurable Results,” Professor Anosike emphasised that institutional credibility must be earned through consistent service delivery, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.

 

Highlighting NiMet’s commitment to international quality standards, the DG/CEO disclosed that the Agency secured ISO 9001:2015 certification for aeronautical meteorological services at Yola, Osubi and Owerri airports in July 2026, alongside the successful recertification of five other airports, bringing its total number of QMS-certified airport stations to eight. He stressed that quality assurance in meteorological services is critical to aviation safety, agricultural productivity, disaster preparedness and national economic development.

 

Professor Anosike further highlighted the integration of the Balanced Scorecard Performance Management System into NiMet’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan as a significant step towards strengthening institutional accountability. He explained that the framework connects strategic objectives with measurable performance indicators, ensuring that organisational success is assessed not merely by activities undertaken but by results achieved and value delivered.

 

He urged institutions to invest in people, technology and stakeholder partnerships while embedding quality management into their organisational culture. According to him, sustainable institutional excellence requires leadership commitment, continuous evaluation and a deliberate shift from procedural compliance to measurable public impact.

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Joint Aviation Unions Appoint Keyamo Grand Patron of Renewed Hope Support Group, Present ITF Position Paper Ahead of ICAO Conference 

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The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, today received a high-powered delegation of aviation labour unions under the Joint Aviation Trade Union Forum (JATUF), led by its Chairman, Comrade Ben Nnabue, in Abuja.

 

The delegation comprised top executives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and other aviation unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP). The unions are affiliates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

 

Other members of the delegation included Comrade John Ogbe, Vice Chairman; Comrade Alale Adedayo, Vice Chairman; Group Captain Bunmi Gandeh, Vice Chairman; and Comrade Hector Nnadi, Secretary of the Forum.

 

The visit was primarily to formally present the position paper of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to the Minister, seeking Nigeria’s support for a motion advocating the integration of social sustainability, decent work and meaningful workers’ engagement into the global civil aviation framework at the forthcoming Seventh Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf7) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), scheduled to hold in Montreal, Canada, from November 16 to 20, 2026.

According to Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister on Media and Communications, the proposed motion, which has received Nigeria’s nod, underscores the need for the international aviation community to recognise that the sustainability and long-term success of civil aviation go beyond infrastructure development, technological advancement and economic growth to include the welfare, rights and professional development of the workforce that sustains the industry.

 

The unions stressed that the future of international civil aviation must be built on a framework that balances economic competitiveness with social responsibility, recognising aviation workers as indispensable stakeholders in the growth, safety and efficiency of the industry.

 

The Minister’s reception of the position paper further demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement with organised labour and the promotion of policies that strengthen the aviation sector while protecting the interests of its workforce.

 

In a related development, the delegation also formally presented the Minister with an invitation to serve as Grand Patron of the Renewed Hope Aviation Support Group (RHASG), under the umbrella of the Strategic Collaboration for the Re-Election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

 

The nomination, made on behalf of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council and entire membership of the organisation, recognises the Minister’s leadership, professional competence and capacity for strategic coordination.

 

The group congratulated Keyamo on his recent appointment as Director of the Directorate of Air Transport Mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) re-election campaign, describing the appointment as a testament to the confidence reposed in his leadership abilities, organisational experience and commitment to effective mobilisation.

 

According to the group, the Minister’s wealth of experience in managing complex responsibilities, coupled with his strategic understanding of the aviation industry, makes him well-positioned to provide political leadership, guidance and direction to the organisation.

 

The appointment as Grand Patron is intended to strengthen the group’s strategic direction and consolidate support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his anticipated re-election bid.

 

The development marks another demonstration of the growing intersection between organised aviation labour, industry stakeholders and broader national development objectives, with the Minister continuing to engage stakeholders on issues that affect the growth, sustainability and future of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

 

 

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Gwarzo appoints Shehu Wada Sagagi as campaign DG

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The Kano State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has appointed a former Kano State Chief of Staff, Gwani Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, as Director-General of his 2027 governorship campaign.

The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, spokesperson to the NDC governorship candidate.

According to the statement, Gwarzo also named Alhaji Adamu Ali Ibrahim Kibiya as Secretary of the Campaign Directorate and Engr. Sunusi Usman Dambatta as Deputy Director-General.

Sagagi, a former Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry and ex-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano State, is expected to lead the campaign’s activities ahead of the 2027 election.

The appointments take immediate effect, while the full membership of the campaign council will be announced later.

 

 

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