The Office of the National Security Adviser has called for stronger media collaboration between the media and security agencies in the ongoing counter terrorism operation in the country.
The Special Adviser to the National Security Adviser on Economic Matters, Prof. Soji, Adelaja, made the comment while representing the NSA, Sambo Dasuki, at a three-day seminar entitled Security/Media Relations in Crisis Management which held under the chairmanship of the a former Chief of Defence Staff, and Chairman of Sure-P, Gen. Martin-Luther Agwa,i in Abuja on Wednesday.
The seminar was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Keneth Minmah, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, representatives of heads of all security and paramilitary agencies in the country.
Adelaja said the media had critical role to play in the current security challenges facing the country.
He said it was important for the media to give priority attention to need to avoid misinforming the public and promote the general interest of the people and the country.
He added that the media should take into cognisance the fact that the terrorists would always exploit the media as an instrument to communicate to the people in a bid to target the nation’s unity.
He said, “The NSA is very excited that this meeting of the minds is happening right here is Abuja at a very critical time in the history of our nation. We know for a fact that this is a time when we are facing very significant security challenges and the media has a tremendous responsibility to discharge during this period.
“We know for a fact that terrorists, part of their strategy is actually to leverage the media in communicating with the people. It is very very important that the media is diligent in its work, decipher facts from misinformation, understanding the role that they have in balancing the interest of the people, the interest of government and of course recognising that the insurgents are seeking to tear at the heart of what holds our country together.”
Adelaja said while the media had done very well more was expected from them.
“The media in Nigeria has done a very god job today but much more could be done. We are all learning, this issue of the insurgency is so new to us. In fact it is so new to the world. So it extremely important that we learn fast, we should understand our roles and responsibilities, not only as pressmen, media men but as citizens as we carry out our duties in informing the Nigerian people,” he said.
He urged the media to ensure a painstaking scrutiny of the use pictures and videos as instruments of communication to the public as it was a known fact that the insurgents were using them to promote their cause.
He also advised the media to avoid divulging sensitive information at a time of crisis in consonance with standard practice.
The Chairman of the event, Agwai, called for more frequent interaction and meetings between the media and the security agencies for enhanced collaboration.
He said the media and the security agencies were in pursuit of the same objective in the interest of the country, but were approaching it from different perspectives and angles.
He said the forum provided an opportunity to narrow the existing gap between the two.
He also urged the security forces recognise the fact that bad news was good news and that the media owners had their objectives which include the quest to have large number of readers and attract adverts by writing great stories.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, former Director of the NTA, Tony Iredia, Prof. Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School and International Journalist of ITV, Ragesh Omar made instructive presentations at the event.
