The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the media and the Nigerian military in addressing the country’s escalating security challenges.
Represented by Commodore Shaibu Mohammad, Deputy Director (Training Maritime), Oluyede made this call during a training workshop for journalists held on Wednesday in Abuja.
The workshop, themed “Contemporary Challenges in Journalism and the Military’s Responsibility to Defend Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity,” was organized by First Green White Resources in partnership with the Defence Headquarters.
“In today’s complex security environment where we are confronted with insurgency, banditry, and many other forms of criminality, the role of the media has become more crucial than ever,” Commodore Mohammad said.
He noted that the narratives shared by the press and the truths they uphold significantly influence public perception and help foster national unity.
According to him, the media should not merely function as a conveyor of information but as “a vital partner in nation-building.”
He urged journalists to report accurately and uphold integrity, while actively countering misinformation.
“The armed forces remain committed to transparency, accountability, and professionalism in all operations,” he added, calling on the media to support the military by reporting responsibly in the national interest.
Delivering a goodwill message, Ambassador John Metchie, African Director of the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), called on the Nigerian press to expose foreign elements allegedly collaborating with local actors to destabilize the country.
“For years now, we have been faced with the multifaceted challenge of insecurity, terrorism, and banditry,” Metchie said.
“What makes Nigeria’s case peculiar is that those attacking the people are fellow citizens, aided by foreign collaborators. My simple challenge to Nigerian journalists, therefore, is to be patriotic and brave enough to unravel and expose these external forces.”
He urged journalists to also investigate political figures who may be complicit in the country’s security woes.
“We need to identify these unpatriotic elements and stop them from occupying key leadership positions,” he said.
Metchie also commended the Nigerian military and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for progress made in the fight against insecurity.
He praised the initiative’s facilitators, including Bonaventure Melah, CEO of First Green White Resources, for organizing the training.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Director of News Husseina Akila Bangshika stressed that patriotism is central to responsible journalism.
“Most times, editors and reporters are misunderstood as being anti-government. But no one can truly practice journalism without a sense of patriotism,” she said.
“That is why the Constitution places the media as the fourth estate of the realm, even though it does not come with a specific budget allocation.”
She added that the role of the press is critical to nationhood, particularly in times of insecurity. “You can’t practice journalism in a vacuum—you must have a country to practice in,” she said.
Bangshika also paid tribute to the military personnel who have lost their lives in the fight against insurgency, saying, “The least we can do as journalists is to support their efforts towards building a better country.”
Other speakers at the event included former Executive Director of Voice of Nigeria, Ahazia Suleiman; Ambassador Simeon Uwa, Ambassador to the West African Monetary Zone; and other security and media professionals.
In his closing remarks, Bonaventure Melah urged journalists to take pride in their profession and maintain high ethical standards.
He stressed the need for continued cooperation between the media and the military in efforts to defeat insurgency and restore peace across the country.