Negative Reports Affect Counter-Insurgency war—NAF tells Reporters

Negative Reports Affect Counter-Insurgency war—NAF tells Reporters

Defence correspondents have been urged to understand the technicalities involved in military operations, as the nation strives to restore peace in all parts of the country, so as not frustrate the effort with negative reportage.

The Chief of Administration in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice-Marshall Kingsley Lar, recently made the call at the ‘Air Power Enlightenment Workshop for Defence Correspondents” at NAF Headquarters in Abuja.

Lar, said the workshop was basically organized to acquaint journalists with the technical knowledge that is needed to report the activities and operations of Nigerian Air Force accurately.

He added that information management in today’s world is critical to national development and the way the public process information affect can affect National Security either positively or negatively, hence, the need for reporters to understand some technicalities and key terminologies so as to report about military activities or security events professionally.

In his welcome address, Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, expressed worry that some reporters do not display professionalism when writing or reporting on the military.

Therefore, he said there is a need for continued interface between the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) and Defence correspondents so as to provide a platform for efficient professional performance while reporting.

Daramola recalled that upon his appointment as the Director of Public Relations and Information last year, his primary preoccupation was to have excellent working relations with members of the press.

He said, “While there has been some improvement in the level of reportage of the Nigerian Air Force activities in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations, as well as other monumental achievements of the current NAF leadership, it is clear that there are still some gaps in the manner the news on the Nigerian Air Force is being reported and disseminated.

The workshop gave technical details on “NAF Hierarchy Rank nomenclature and Rank Structure”.

Also, it enlightened the participants on the “Characteristics and Limitations of Air Power,” “Aircraft Types in NAF Inventory and Roles,” as well as the types of “Armaments on NAF Aircraft.”

By PRNigeria