By Precious Oluwole

The Nigerian Army has called for a robust collaboration between the armed forces in the country and the media as part of efforts to tackle the nation’s increasingly complex security challenges.

The call was made during the opening of the Nigerian Army Civil-Military Cooperation quarterly media chat, with the theme: Military-Media Collaboration: Panacea for Enhanced National Security and Development, held at the weekend in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The one-day event, hosted by the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs, brought together practicing journalists, media executives, communication scholars, senior military officials and personnel including heads of the sisters security agencies in the state.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede said the Nigerian military has not relented in combating the myriads of security challenges bedevilling the country through deliberate kinetic and non-kinetic operations.

Oluyede, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General Obinna Onubogu, noted that it was important for all patriotic citizens and stakeholders to play their individual roles in the collective effort to secure the nation.

He explained that the media has a critical role to play in ensuring that the public was well informed on the activities of the Nigerian Army in its “matrix of the whole-of-nation approach” in dealing with country’s security challenges.

“I believe that the great debate on whether the pen is mightier than the sword is over, the pen has won the debate, and it is accepted that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

“However, in a time of varied security threats to our society, there is a need for enhanced cooperation and collaboration between the pen and the sword representing the media and the military.

“The collaboration and partnership between the Nigerian Army and the media remains fundamental to achieving national security objectives, which is crucial for maintaining peace, harmony, and securing the territorial integrity of Nigeria,” Oluyede said.

According to him, in a bid to foster effective collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the media, it is also essential to encourage open dialogue and mutual respect.

This, he stressed, would assist in regular communication channels to enable transparent reportage, timely dissemination of information, countering disinformation, and misinformation in building public confidence.

“Therefore, I urge media practitioners at all levels to uphold responsibility, accuracy, and fairness when reporting the Nigerian Army activities and to balance national security interests with the people’s right to information.

“This is also crucial to avoid spreading misinformation or inflammatory contents that could undermine national unity and security. To this end, I encourage media practitioners to always verify information before disseminating it to the public.

“To achieve this, it is important that our collaboration extends beyond conflict reporting to include national development, peace building, and community engagements,” the Army chief said.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (CCMA), Maj-Gen. Chibuisi Gold harpened on the need to strengthen mutual understanding between the Army and media stakeholders in addressing the envolving national security challenges.

He added that it was also essential in harmonizing a productive effort between the Nigerian Army and media in a joint pursuit of national security objectives.

“As an Army, we are not only committed to safeguarding our nation, but also fostering relationships that promote understanding and unity among our people,” Gold said.

In his goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation Olarewaju Akarakiri said the event was crucial, noting that the synergy between the military and the media is also important for promoting national unity.

Akarakiri, who was represented by the administrative secretary in the ministry, Akindele Adedayo, opined that the collaboration between the security agencies and the media would enhance the dissemination of accurate and balance reportage.

In his lecture titled “Enhancing Information for National Security and Development: Nigerian Military Operations in Perspectives”, the Executive Director, Armed Forces Radio Director, Abuja, Col Timothy Okon Antigha (RTD) highlighted the fundamentals and issues of national security and restated the importance of information management from the media.

While charging media practitioners to be fair in their reportage, Antigua used the opportunity to showcase activities of the Nigerian Army in troubled spots of the country.

“The Nigerian Army beyond fighting wars to keep the territorial integrity of this nation is engaged in a number of humanitarian activities across the country,” he said.

In her own lecture, titled “Effective Information Management and National Security: Focus on Multi-Stakeholders Approach,” the Head of the Mass Communication Department, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Dr Christiana Ade Johnson, driver into the roles of the media and particularly identified how the collaboration efforts with the military can be achieved in winning the war against terrorism.