The federal government has unveiled plans to embed journalists with military units during selected operations to promote accurate reportage and strengthen public understanding of ongoing counter-insurgency and internal security efforts.
Key Highlights:
- The Federal Government plans to embed journalists with military units during selected operations to improve accuracy and transparency in security reporting.
- Defence Minister Christopher Musa said the initiative will strengthen collaboration between the media and security agencies.
- The government stressed that journalists must avoid publishing sensitive operational details that could endanger missions or personnel.
- Information Minister Mohammed Idris called for stronger media-security cooperation to address terrorism, cybercrime, disinformation, and other security threats.
- National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced plans for a national security communication framework to improve information sharing between security agencies and the media.
Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this on Thursday, at the national security summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Olusanya Bankole, the minister said the initiative is part of efforts to deepen collaboration between the media and security agencies while enhancing transparency and public confidence in military operations.
The summit with the theme: “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” brought together security chiefs, policymakers, media executives, academics and civil society organisations to examine strategies for tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Musa described the media as a critical stakeholder in national security management, noting that modern warfare extends beyond conventional land, air and maritime domains to include the information space.
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According to him, success in security operations should not be measured solely by battlefield victories but also by the level of public trust and confidence in security institutions.
“More than ever before, the media are not only enablers; they are stabilisers of government,” he said.
The defence minister added that journalists play a crucial role in promoting national unity, patriotism and resilience.
He, however, warned against the premature publication of sensitive operational information, saying such disclosures could jeopardise military missions, endanger personnel and inadvertently assist criminal networks.
Musa said the defence ministry is exploring modalities for embedding journalists within military formations during operations to enable firsthand exposure to operational realities and improve the quality of security reportage.
“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 said.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the changing character of modern warfare, which now combines kinetic and non-kinetic elements, including information management, strategic communication and community engagement.
Declaring the summit open, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the gathering as timely in view of the increasing complexity of security threats globally.
He identified terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised crime, separatist agitations and disinformation campaigns as emerging threats compelling nations to adopt new 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,” Idris said.
The minister said the Tinubu administration has continued to prioritise security through sustained 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 investment in military hardware, intelligence infrastructure and surveillance technology.
Idris urged journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in reporting security issues, warning that misinformation and disinformation could undermine national security efforts.
Earlier, the National President of the NUJ, Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, said national security could no longer be left solely to security agencies, stressing that journalists and other stakeholders have important roles in safeguarding the country.
He said the summit fulfilled a pledge he made on assuming office to create platforms that would strengthen engagement 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, while security agencies are responsible for protecting lives and property, the media serves as a vital institution for informing citizens, shaping public opinion and promoting accountability.
Also speaking, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, called for a closer collaboration between journalists and security agencies to balance the public’s right to information with national security considerations.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Civil Society, Chido Onumah, Ribadu acknowledged the challenges journalists face in accessing timely information and urged security institutions to 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 his iffice is developing a national security strategic communication framework to provide a structured platform for information sharing, verification and collaboration between security agencies and media organisations.
According to him, the framework will improve journalists’ access to credible information while reducing the risk of reports that could inadvertently aid terrorists, criminals or other threats to national security.
In a paper presentation, Okey Okechukwu said the media plays a vital role in amplifying the impact of military operations, noting that significant security successes could go largely unnoticed without adequate media coverage.
He maintained that journalism remains central to shaping public understanding of national security efforts and strengthening democratic governance.
Okechukwu also stressed the need for improved civic education and stronger institutions, arguing that many citizens lack sufficient capacity to fully understand policy issues.
He further observed that the poor state of educational infrastructure, including many unity schools across the country, reflects broader governance and developmental challenges that require urgent attention.
