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BY Patrick Mgbodo

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, Wednesday called on the media to refrain from amplifying the activities of non-state actors whose agenda is to destabilize Nigeria’s security, well-being, and integrity.

Lt Gen Lagbaja stressed that the actions of non-state actors aiming to compromise the overall prosperity of Nigeria would be significantly reduced without the collaboration of certain unpatriotic and unscrupulous individuals within the society.

The Army Chief, represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, Maj Gen Jamal Abdulsalam, appealed at the 2024 first quarter edition of the Nigeria Army Civil-Military Cooperation Media Chat held in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

While underscoring the critical role that collaboration between the media and the military plays in safeguarding national security, Lt Gen Lagbaja stressed that the media chat aims to facilitate the exchange of valuable information and ideas between the military and journalists.

“It is crucial to emphasize that the actions of non-state actors aiming to undermine the security, welfare and overall prosperity of our country would be significantly diminished and almost non-existent without the collaboration of certain unpatriotic and unscrupulous individuals within our society.

“Therefore, I take this moment to urge the media to refrain from inadvertently amplifying the activities of these undesirable elements. Terrorists, insurgents and other deviant groups thrive on attention, exploit propaganda and instil fear in law-abiding citizens. It is only through our collective efforts that we can effectively combat insecurity and restore peace to our country.

“There is the need to build the society where the military and the media are united in their commitment to safeguarding our nation and upholding the values that define us as Nigerians” he said while condemning the killing of soldiers in the Okuama Community of Delta State on March 14 2024.

In his goodwill message, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza corrected the misconception that the media is hostile, even as he congratulated the military for the decisive step to collaborate with the journalists in the interest of national security.

‘’Establishing this all-important relationship will provide the military the opportunity to communicate with the people and get them to understand what it is doing, clarifying grey areas, and carrying them along for them (public) to have a buy-in into the mission of the military’’ Osuoza said.

Earlier, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj Gen Nosa Ugbo, noted that the military and the media can enhance public support towards addressing security challenges and safeguarding the nation, adding that the choice of Asaba as the venue for the media chat was inspired to enable journalists from the South-south geopolitical zone to support the army through constructive and objective reportage.

Meanwhile, the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH) and Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Ndace, expressed optimism that a robust military-media partnership would enhance the realization of the national security objectives.

Others who spoke at the ceremony include the Director General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Dembos, represented by the General Manager (Asaba), Mr Patrick Iro, and the General Manager of the Delta Broadcasting Service (Asaba), Mrs Christiana Emetulu.

Highpoints of the event were lectures on Enhancing National Security Through Military-Media Engagements and Promoting Military-Media Trust For Enhanced Public Support Towards Addressing Nigeria’s Security Challenges delivered by Maj Gen Olusegun Adeleke (Rtd) and Prof Godwin Oboh, respectively.