By Daily Review Online
The Federal Government, security agencies and media stakeholders have renewed calls for stronger collaboration between journalists and security institutions as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges and promote national stability.
The call was made on Thursday during the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja. The summit was themed, “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building.”
Participants emphasised that tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, misinformation and other emerging threats requires more than military action, stressing the need for 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 to security agencies, noting that journalists and other stakeholders have crucial roles to play in safeguarding the country.
He explained that the summit fulfilled a commitment he made upon assuming office to create platforms that would strengthen 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 believed then, as I do now, that meaningful dialogue and cooperation are essential to strengthening our democracy and advancing the public interest,” he said.
Abdullahi noted that 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.
He commended the DSS for supporting the summit and fostering constructive engagement with journalists, describing the agency as a model for productive media-security collaboration.
Declaring the summit open, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the gathering as timely in view of increasingly complex security threats facing nations globally.
He identified terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised crime, separatist agitations and disinformation campaigns as emerging threats that have compelled governments to rethink traditional security approaches.
“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 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has continued to prioritise security under its 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 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.
“National security is not served when misinformation is amplified without verification. Neither is it served when legitimate public concerns are ignored,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, described the media as an indispensable partner in national security operations, noting that journalism plays a critical role in shaping public confidence and strengthening national resilience.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, Musa said the media are not only enablers but also stabilisers of government.
“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,” he said.
He added 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 be measured solely by battlefield victories but also by the level of public confidence in security institutions.
He warned against the premature publication of sensitive operational information, noting that such disclosures could compromise missions, endanger personnel and unintentionally aid criminal elements.
The Defence Ministry, he revealed, is exploring arrangements to embed journalists with military units during operations to improve the accuracy of security reporting and provide journalists with a better understanding of operational realities.
Musa reiterated that addressing insecurity is “40 per cent kinetic and 60 per cent non-kinetic,” emphasising the importance of information management, public trust and community engagement.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, also stressed the need for stronger cooperation between journalists and security agencies to balance the public’s right to information with the protection of national security interests.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Civil Society, Chido Onumah, Ribadu acknowledged the challenges journalists face in obtaining 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.
Ribadu disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser (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 provide journalists with 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 address by Professor Okey Okechukwu, who highlighted the role of the media as a force 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, 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 concluded with a renewed commitment by both media practitioners and security agencies to deepen engagement, build mutual trust and work together to advance Nigeria’s national security objectives.