The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has trained no fewer than 300 key officers of the Nigeria Hunter and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) in operational, leadership, and organisational management.

The four-day capacity workshop participants were drawn from the ranks of assistant commanders, commanders, assistant commanders general (ACG), and deputy commander general (DCG).

The training is being conducted at NSCDC headquarters in Sauka Abuja.

In his remarks, the Commander General (CG) of NHFSS, Joshua Osatimehin, said the training workshop was designed to enhance the capacity of NHFSS operatives as being rendered in public service.

Mr Osatimehin said the training would be continuous, adding that the move would also enhance the productivity of NHFSS personnel and strengthen the security of lives and property in forests across the country.

He reiterated the commitment service to training and retraining of its officers and men.

The CG said the capacity workshop also enabled the hunters to contribute to the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda in security.

“NSCDC has over the years been rendering necessary security training to NHFSS to enable the service to be abreast with current strategies on intelligence gathering, security tips, and mode of conduct, among others, in line with the best international security standard.

“This is geared towards safeguarding the country from crimes and criminality, especially in the ungoverned space, which is the forest nationwide,” he said.

Mr Osatimehin advised the participants to apply what they had learnt during the four-day capacity workshop to their state commands and structures by replicating the gains of the training on their junior officers, especially in the 774 local government areas, towards realising the objectives.

The Deputy Commander General (DCG), Technical Services, John Metchie, said the training would enable senior officers to pass it on to the local level.

Mr Metchie said the organisation was determined to ensure that all its officers, from the rank of deputy commanders upwards, were properly trained and well-equipped to handle issues.

“ It is expected that when they go back to their various commands, everybody will be very professional doing their work.

“They will go back and train their commands so that what they have learnt here, they will pass it down to their different state commands,” he said.

In a paper presentation entitled “Security Threats and Risks,” NSCDC commandant Vincent Ogu advised the participants to always be aware of their responsibilities in line with the current trend in security business and operation.

(NAN)