By Sani Gazas Chinade Damaturu
The North-East Development Commission NEDC has donated food and relief materials to support the training of 1,000 forest guards recruited to enhance security in Yobe State.
The items, which include 100 cartons of spaghetti and macaroni, 80 gallons of vegetable oil, and 1,000 nylon mats, were handed over on Saturday in Damaturu.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mr Mohammed G. Alkali, was represented at the event by the Yobe State Coordinator of the NEDC, Mr Ali Abbas.
Abbas said the donation was in line with the Commission’s mandate to complement the efforts of the federal and state governments in addressing persistent security challenges in the North-East.
“We are here today, Saturday, 14th June 2025, with retired Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdussalam, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, to hand over these sundry items to support the training of 1,000 forest guards,” he said.
Abbas described the initiative as a critical intervention under the leadership of Mr Alkali, aimed at strengthening local security architecture in forested areas prone to infiltration by criminal elements.
“With this kind of support, participants will receive the training and welfare needed to perform effectively. The NEDC, as an interventionist agency, will continue to complement efforts at both federal and state levels to foster peace, security and prosperity,” he added.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Yobe State Government, retired Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdussalam commended the NEDC for what he described as a bold and pioneering gesture.
He said the training of the forest guards forms part of a joint initiative between the federal and state governments to curb the use of forests by criminals, terrorists and bandits.
“The federal government, in collaboration with the state, has recruited forest guards to secure our forest zones and deny criminal elements safe havens.
According to him the NEDC has become the first interventionist agency in Nigeria to support this effort,” Abdussalam said.
He confirmed the receipt of 1,000 nylon mats, 100 cartons of spaghetti and macaroni, and 80 gallons of vegetable oil.
“On behalf of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, I express our profound appreciation to the NEDC management under Mr Alkali, who is represented here by Mr Ali Abbas,” he said.
According to him, the training programme is in its pilot phase, covering five local government areas, with plans to scale up in subsequent phases.
“This is just the beginning. We intend to train many more forest guards. The training is ongoing, and support like this will help us sustain the momentum,” he added.
According to him the North-East Development Commission has remained a key driver of recovery and development efforts in the region, with interventions in security, education, infrastructure, and humanitarian services respectively
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