The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) has said it is optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari will sign its establishment Bill into law before handing over power to incoming president, Senator Bola Tinubu on Monday.
The Deputy Commander General (DCG) of the NHFSS in charge of Technical Service, Dr. John Metchie expressed the optimism, while reacting to the news of the President’s assent to five Bills few hours ago.
Buhari had on Friday, signed five Bills into law but the establishment Bill for the NHFSS which has since been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, was not among those on the list.
The Bills assented to by the President on Friday include, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Bill, Arbitration and Mediation Bill, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Act for the provision of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ogoinbiri, Bayelsa State; the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (Establishment) Act; and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria (Establishment) Act.
Reacting to the development, in a statement Saturday morning, Metchie who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, said a President can do so much in two days, adding that officers and men of the NHFSS are expectant that the Bill would be assented to before Monday’s handover.
He said the President would sign the Bill because of the strategic roles officers and men of the NHFSS are expected to play towards effective security of lives and property of the people of Nigeria.
He said that most criminal elements known as terrorists, gunmen, bandits and kidnappers, among others, use the forests as their hideouts and also retire back to the forests after carrying out their nefarious activities.
Metchie said- “On behalf of the Commander General of the NHFSS, Dr. Joshua Wole Osatimehin, I wish to urge all officers and men of our Service, to remain calm and optimistic that Mr. President who understands the strategic importance of effective national security, would sign the Bill into law.
“Two days is a lot of time for a President to do so many things and I believe signing the NHFSS is one of the most important actions the Buhari would take in the last two days of his administration.
“We therefore use this opportunity, to once again, urge the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of national importance, give presidential assent to the Nigerian Hunters and Forestry Security Service Bill which has been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“Knowing that the primary responsibility of the NHFSS, is to curb crimes and criminalities in Nigerian forests, the President’s assent to the Bill would empower Officers and Men of NHFSS and further motivate them to occupy strategic positions in the forests and farms, and that way, make it difficult for those using the forests to carry out nefarious activities against the state and people of Nigeria.
“Apart from curbing banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other anti-people activities, signing the Bill into law, would enable government recruit thousands of young men and women as hunters, which would help to solve the issue of unemployment, one of the most serious challenge facing the nation,” Metchie concluded.