Defence Ministry, NSA, NUJ seek stronger Media-Security partnership to tackle insecurity

By Gift ChapiOdekina,Abuja

The Federal Government, security agencies and media stakeholders on Thursday renewed calls for stronger collaboration between journalists and security institutions as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges and strengthen national stability.

The call was made at the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja under the theme, “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building.”

Stakeholders at the summit stressed that combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, misinformation and other emerging threats requires not only military action but also strategic communication, responsible journalism and public trust.

Speaking at the event, NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, said national security could no longer be left solely in the hands of security agencies, noting that journalists and other stakeholders have critical roles to play in safeguarding the country.

Abdullahi described the summit as the fulfilment of a commitment he made upon assuming office to create platforms that would foster collaboration between journalists and institutions responsible for governance and security.

“The vision behind that commitment was to build stronger bridges between journalists and stakeholders in governance and security. I firmly believed then, as I do now, that meaningful dialogue and cooperation are essential to strengthening our democracy and advancing the public interest,” he said.

According to him, the media and security institutions occupy strategic positions in every democratic society, with security agencies protecting lives and property while the media informs citizens, shapes public opinion and promotes accountability.

The NUJ President commended the DSS for supporting the summit and fostering constructive engagement with journalists, describing the agency as a model of productive media-security collaboration.

Declaring the summit open, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the gathering was timely given the increasing complexity of modern security threats across the world.

He noted that terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised crime, separatist agitations and disinformation campaigns have forced nations to rethink traditional approaches to security management.

“The relationship between the media and security agencies must therefore be founded on mutual respect, professionalism, trust and an appreciation of their complementary roles,” the minister said.

Idris said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has continued to prioritise security as a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda through military operations, intelligence gathering, technological innovation and community engagement.

He highlighted achievements recorded by security agencies, including the neutralisation of terrorists and bandits, rescue of kidnapped victims, dismantling of criminal camps and increased investments in military hardware, intelligence infrastructure and surveillance technology.

The minister urged journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in reporting security matters, warning that misinformation and disinformation could undermine national security efforts.
“National security is not served when misinformation is amplified without verification. Neither is it served when legitimate public concerns are ignored,” he said.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa described the media as an indispensable partner in national security operations, saying journalism plays a critical role in shaping public confidence and national resilience.

“More than ever before, the media are not only enablers; they are stabilisers of government,” he said. “The media must help propagate patriotism and national unity because Nigeria is at a critical stage where every institution has a role to play in safeguarding the country.”

Represented by his special adviser, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, the Minister stressed that modern security operations now extend beyond land, air and maritime domains to include the information space, making the media a strategic component of national security architecture.

According to him, military success should not only be measured by battlefield victories but also by the level of public confidence in security institutions.

He cautioned against the premature dissemination of sensitive operational information, warning that such reports could compromise missions, endanger personnel and unintentionally aid criminal elements.

The official disclosed that the Defence Ministry is exploring arrangements to embed journalists with military units during operations to enable more accurate reporting and deeper understanding of operational realities.

He also referenced the position of the Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa, that addressing insecurity is “40 per cent kinetic and 60 per cent non-kinetic,” emphasizing the importance of information management, public trust and community engagement.

Also speaking, the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Nuhu Ribadu said security agencies and journalists must work together to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and the need to protect national security interests.

The NSA who was represented by his Special Adviser on strategic communication and civil society, Chido Onumah acknowledged that journalists often face challenges obtaining timely information and stressed that security institutions must improve communication and transparency.

“We are all in this together. We must have a secure nation before we can effectively practise our professions and pursue national development,” he said.

He disclosed that ONSA is developing a National Security Strategic Communication Framework aimed at creating a structured platform for information sharing, verification and collaboration between security agencies and media organisations.

According to him, the framework will help ensure that journalists have access to credible information while reducing the risk of reports that could inadvertently aid terrorists, criminals or other threats to national security.

The summit also featured a keynote presentation by Professor Okey Okechukwu, who examined the role of the media as an impact multiplier in military and security operations, stressing the importance of strategic communication in modern conflict management.

Participants, including security chiefs, policymakers, academics, media executives and civil society representatives, engaged in extensive discussions on contemporary security challenges and strategies for strengthening media-security cooperation.

Stakeholders agreed that stronger partnerships between journalists and security institutions would enhance crisis communication, improve public trust, counter misinformation and contribute significantly to national peace, security and development.

The summit ended with a renewed commitment by both media practitioners and security agencies to deepen engagement, build mutual trust and work together in advancing Nigeria’s national security objectives.

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