The Commander of the Enugu State Forest Guard (ESFG), Dr. Akinbayo O. Olasoji, has commended Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for what he described as a forward-looking and strategic decision to establish and strengthen the Enugu State Forest Guard as a critical component of security and economic protection.
Speaking at the NAOSNP National Security Conference & Awards 2025 in Lagos, Dr. Olasoji said Governor Mbah’s initiative demonstrated a rare understanding that forest security is inseparable from economic stability and rural peace.
“A nation that cannot secure its economic resources cannot guarantee prosperity or stability,” he said, noting that Governor Mbah recognised early that forests must be governed, not ignored.
According to Dr. Olasoji, the Governor’s intervention repositioned the Forest Guard from “a dormant structure into a professional, intelligence-led, and community-rooted eco-security institution” with clear legal authority and operational accountability.
Governor of Enugu State
He added that Governor Mbah’s support for a strong legal framework including the Enugu State Forest Guard Law and complementary land-use and ranching laws which laid the foundation for lawful enforcement and conflict prevention.
“Forests are not just green belts; they are living infrastructure that sustains agriculture, water systems, and rural livelihoods,” Dr. Olasoji said. “When forests are abandoned, criminal economies move in. His Excellency chose governance over neglect.”
The ESFG Commander noted that the governor’s vision has begun to yield measurable security dividends, including improved community cooperation, stronger intelligence flow, and reduced pressure on conventional security agencies.
In his words, “Leadership is about seeing tomorrow’s risks today. By creating the Forest Guard, Governor Mbah chose prevention over reaction and stability over crisis management.”
Dr. Olasoji concluded that Enugu’s experience offers a compelling model for other states, adding: “To defend the environment is to defend the economy; to guard the forest is to guard the future.”