The Commander General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin, on Tuesday, at the National Assembly in Abuja, appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, where he made a submission on the proposed establishment of the National Intelligence Trust Fund.

Other agencies that appeared before the Committee and made submissions at the event include Defence Headquarters, the three arms of the Nigerian military- Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police, Customs, Immigration and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among others.

The House Committee had, in a letter dated February 4th 2025, invited the NFSS and others, to the public hearing on the proposed bill for the establishment of the Fund to “Provide Funding for Security Related Issues Apart from Usual Budgetary Provisions from the Federation, Intervene in Combating Security Issues in Nigeria and for Related Matters.”

In his submission, the Commander General of the NFSS, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatmehin, supported the establishment of the proposed Fund, saying any effort to strengthen the security situations in the country will be a great initiative.

“…The Fund and its disbursement for various interventions should be designed for easy access and accountable manner for emergency need. This fund would provide rapid response against threats. The complementary nature of this Fund to augment the efforts of the usual budgetary provisions from the federation is commendable. I want to believe no country in the world has entirely met the funding needs of its security sub-sector; any effort to increase security fundings is advocated.

Amb. John Metchie, DCG Intelligence, NFSS

“Timely disbursement from this Fund for the execution of security projects and programs has a way of motivating our security personnel out there. I strongly believe our security personnel need better trainings, health care, housing, weapons/security infrastructure etc. to aid their morale and performance. Sincerely, the establishment of this Fund will further show the commitment of this administration at tackling insecurity enough to boost public confidence in this government to secure them. This would reduce anxiety among citizens as they go about their normal businesses. The establishment of this Intelligence Trust Fund would go a long way at improving the socio-economic and national security.

“Considering the great achievements Officers and Men of the NFSS have recorded in collaboration with other government security agencies at combating criminalities in our forest; we therefore solicit the support of both chambers of the National Assembly as well as the Presidency to ensure the bill for the establishment of Nigeria Forest Security Service becomes a law to further strengthen the security architecture of our dear country Nigeria.” Osatimehin concluded.

Reacting to the development, the Deputy Commander General, Intelligence, of the NFSS, Ambassador John Metchie said the proposal to establish a special Fund purely for intelligence purposes, was a testimony of the seriousness and commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to rid the country of all forms of insecurities, as according to him, intelligence gathering and sharing remain the brain-box towards tackling insecurity anywhere in the world.

Metchie who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, IAWPA, commended the National Assembly for thinking alongside the President as well as taking proactive measures in support of the government’s efforts to secure the country.

While commending the Commander General of NFSS, Dr. Wole Joshua Osatimehin for his great leadership stride, which he said was responsible for the various achievements recorded by the NFSS, Metchie called on the National Assembly, the National Security Adviser and other critical stakeholders to work together in getting the NFSS bill signed by President Bola Tinubu, saying it would add great value to the collective efforts to secure Nigeria, especially the forested and ungoverned areas.