The Nigerian military has been urged to stop the growing trend of attacks on journalists in the country and see the media and its practitioners as tools for national security rather than being enemies.
He said the media are the bridge linking the government, its agencies, and officials to the people, stressing that the media serves as a bridge between an organisation like the Military and its stakeholders.
Delta State Commissioner for Information made the call during the Nigerian Army Civil-military cooperation media chat held on Wednesday 3rd March 2024, in Asaba, the State capital.
According to the Information Commissioner, “both parties (military and media) should make the partnership being established today a continuously robust and an enduring relationship for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians, and the upward growth of the Nigerian Military”.
He insisted that no doubt, such a relationship would help a great deal to expose to the people the importance of the role of the military as a strategic professional group whose job function is well defined to engender and support the growth of societal peace as well as secure the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria against external aggression.
He lauded the army for the choice of the theme of the 2024 media chat, titled: “Imperative of Military – Media Partnership for the Attainment of National Security.”
He said the theme was apt given the present insecurity situation across the country which require military intervention.
He said: “It is therefore stating the obvious that never has the military been tasked so much in Nigeria than now.
“So much so that the challenges are enormous, requiring the intervention of the military to help ward off and put an end to the growing menace of militant, terrorist, and kidnapping groups that have laid siege to nearly all parts of the country”, commending the Nigerian Army for considering it worthwhile to partner with the media.
“This decision is commendable and should be applauded because it’s an index that the leadership of the Nigerian Army understands the crucial importance of establishing and nurturing positive relationships with the civil population towards building and achieving the all-important civil-military understanding.
“The chat initiative is, therefore an important Public Relations tool for nurturing positive relationships between the military and the civilian populace.
“It therefore, has the potential to let the military high command to get to understand how the mind of the people whose existence they are to protect works.
“This is because the military-civil relationship is supposed to be symbiotic; while the people need the military to protect them against external aggression and to crush internal insurrection so as to be able to live in peace and pursue their respective endeavours of keeping body and soul together and making progress in their daily living, the military needs the people to cooperate with it by ensuring that they conduct themselves in reasonable and orderly manner as well as make information available when they notice untowered situations that run contrary to peace and security of life and property.
“That the media is powerful is beyond contention. And this is to the extent that the media continues to play the role of an information activist for an informed and responsible public.
“This is why the media deserves to be studied in a more profound and sustained sense by promoters, actors, and facilitators of democracy and good governance.
“This is crucial because of the unique function of the media in providing information to the public, and confirming the actions of the government on issues of National Security.
“As it is well known, the role of the media is to provide the people with information which makes them to grasp and understand security matters.
“The media can be used as a tool to rightly inform and replace misinformation that hampers Nigeria’s relations with its neighbouring countries and help to douse tension.
“So, given the contemporary issues in Nigeria today, where you find journalists asking questions and seeking the response of appropriate officials to issues, it is not that the press is hostile or trying to poke their nose into what erroneously is believed not to be their concern, no it indeed concerns them.
“Therefore, the question they are asking is in furtherance of the Constitutional responsibility thrusted on them.
“So, rather than see Journalists as antagonists or busybodies, it is imperative that Governments and its agencies put in place mechanisms to relate with the press.
“And one way of doing this is through the mechanism of Press or Media Relations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Media Relations refer to the relationship that an organisation develops with the Journalists.
“Experts contend that Media Relations aims to educate through the media (newspapers, radio, television, and other forms of Mass media).
“It involves working with such for the purpose of informing the public of an organisation, like the Military, of its mission, policies, and practices in a positive, consistent, and credible manner.
“The imperatives of Military-Media Partnership for the Attainment of National Security can be seen in the fact that the Journalists through their mediums, help to influence high-level national and international decision-making.
“They serve information, analyse information, educate, and enlighten through incisive opinions and analysis. In the process, the people form their opinions and take a stand on issues.
“Thus, the unique coverage and impact of the media can be accelerated, thereby to promote and expand security awareness among the people and used for morale building”, he said.
