FG Plans to Include Journalists in Military Operations to Enhance Security Reporting
The Federal Government has announced plans to embed journalists within military formations during selected operations as part of efforts to improve the accuracy of security reporting and strengthen public understanding of ongoing counterinsurgency and internal security operations across the country.
Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), disclosed the initiative 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, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (rtd.), the Defence Minister said the initiative is designed to deepen collaboration between the media and security agencies, enhance transparency, and build public confidence in military operations.
The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” brought together security chiefs, policymakers, media executives, academics, and civil society stakeholders to discuss strategies for addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Musa described the media as a critical stakeholder in national security management, noting that modern warfare now extends beyond traditional land, air, and maritime domains to include the information space.
According to him, the success of security operations should not be measured solely by battlefield achievements 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.
He emphasised that journalists play a vital role in promoting national unity, patriotism, and resilience, while cautioning against the premature publication of sensitive operational information that could compromise missions, endanger personnel, or inadvertently assist criminal and terrorist networks.
Musa explained that the proposed embedding arrangement would provide journalists with firsthand exposure to operational realities, thereby improving the quality, accuracy, and context of security reporting.
“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 stated.
He added that the initiative aligns with the changing nature of modern warfare, which increasingly combines kinetic operations with non-kinetic approaches such as strategic communication, information management, and community engagement.
Declaring the summit open, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the gathering as timely, given the growing complexity of contemporary security threats worldwide.
He noted that terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised crime, separatist agitations, and disinformation campaigns have compelled nations to rethink conventional 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.
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The minister further stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has continued to prioritise security under the Renewed Hope Agenda through enhanced military operations, intelligence gathering, technological innovation, and community engagement.
He highlighted achievements recorded by security agencies, including the neutralisation of terrorists and bandits, the rescue of kidnapped victims, the dismantling of criminal hideouts, and increased investments in military hardware, intelligence infrastructure, and surveillance technology.
Idris urged journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in reporting security matters, warning that misinformation and disinformation could undermine national security efforts.
In his remarks, NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, said national security can no longer be regarded as the exclusive responsibility of security agencies, stressing that journalists and other stakeholders have important roles to play in safeguarding the nation.
He described the summit as the fulfilment of a commitment made upon assuming office to create platforms that encourage 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,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that while security agencies are tasked with 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, represented by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Civil Society, Chido Onumah, stressed the need for stronger collaboration between journalists and security agencies to balance the public’s right to information with the protection of national security interests.
He acknowledged the challenges journalists often face in accessing timely information and called on 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.
Ribadu disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is developing a National Security Strategic Communication Framework to establish a structured platform for information sharing, verification, and collaboration between security agencies and media organisations.
According to him, the framework will improve access to credible information for journalists while reducing the risk of reports that could unintentionally aid terrorists, criminals, or other threats to national security.
Presenting a paper at the summit, Professor Okey Okechukwu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University highlighted the media’s role in amplifying the impact of military operations, noting that significant security successes may go unnoticed without effective media coverage.
He argued that journalism remains central to shaping public understanding of national security efforts and strengthening democratic governance in Nigeria.
The academic further stressed the need for improved civic education and stronger institutions, noting that governance challenges, including the poor state of educational infrastructure across the country, continue to affect national development outcomes.
By PRNigeria
