In pursuit of its mandate to equip military officers with strategic knowledge of national security, the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) conducted an Environmental Study Tour (EST) from 10 to 13 March 2025. The tour, which forms part of the National and Organization of Defence Module, aimed to provide participants with firsthand insights into the contributions of selected establishments and organizations to the attainment of national defence objectives.

The theme of this year’s EST for course 9/25 is “Security of Forest Reserves for Enhanced National Defence.” The study tour focused on assessing the role of forest reserves in national security and exploring strategies to safeguard these natural assets against security threats such as insurgency, banditry and other illegal activities.

The Exercise Director for the tour was the Commandant AWCN, Major General Umar Mohammed Alkali, who supervised the overall conduct of the visit. Participants were divided into two teams for a more in-depth exploration of security dynamics in different geopolitical zones. Team 1 was led by Brigadier General AM Dikko, the Director of War and Strategy, while Brigadier General OI Odigie, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies AWCN headed Team 2. Both teams engaged with relevant government institutions, security agencies, and experts to assess the security of forest reserves for enhanced national defence.

During the visit, the teams engaged with selected military and paramilitary formations, along with state forestry management, all working towards the shared goal of enhancing the security and management of forest reserves as a vital national security asset. They received briefings on the role of security agencies in national defence and gained valuable insights into safeguarding critical national infrastructure, including forest reserves.

The teams also interacted with personnel from various security establishments and environmental agencies tasked with protecting vast forest reserves. Their engagements focused on the collaborative efforts required to mitigate security threats in forested areas, ensuring sustainable resource management while preventing criminal exploitation.

The tour provided participants with valuable knowledge on the intersection between environmental security and national defence. They examined challenges such as illegal logging, poaching, and the use of forest reserves as hideouts by criminal elements, reinforcing the need for a comprehensive security framework to protect these critical national assets. Additionally, the participants gained firsthand exposure to inter-agency cooperation in managing security threats and the role of non-military actors in enhancing national security through environmental conservation efforts.

At the end of the tour, the Exercise Director, Commandant AWCN, expressed satisfaction with the conduct and engagement of the participants throughout the visit. He commended the teams for their active participation and urged them to apply the knowledge gained to improve national security strategies and defence policies.

Major General Alkali further emphasized that the Environmental Study Tour remains a crucial component of AWCN’s curriculum, aimed at equipping officers with the analytical and leadership skills required to navigate complex security challenges. He reaffirmed AWCN’s commitment to training military leaders capable of addressing contemporary threats through innovative approaches.