Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has announced plans to embed journalists with military units during selected operations as part of efforts to enhance accurate security reporting and deepen public understanding of ongoing counter‑insurgency and internal security operations across the country. Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), disclosed the initiative on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
Represented by his Special Adviser, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (rtd.), the minister said the initiative is aimed at strengthening collaboration between the media and security agencies while improving transparency and public confidence in military operations. The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” brought together security chiefs, policymakers, media executives, academics and civil society representatives to deliberate on strategies for addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Musa described the media as a critical partner in national security management, stressing that modern warfare now extends beyond land, air and maritime domains to include the information space. According to him, effective security outcomes should not only be measured by battlefield success but also by public trust and confidence in security institutions. “More than ever before, the media are not only enablers; they are stabilisers of government,” he said. He added that journalists play a vital role in promoting unity, patriotism and national resilience.
The Defence Minister, however, cautioned against the premature release of sensitive operational information, warning that such disclosures could compromise missions, endanger personnel and inadvertently aid criminal networks. He explained that the Defence Ministry is exploring arrangements to embed journalists within military formations during operations to provide first‑hand exposure to operational realities and improve the quality of security reporting. “The Defence Ministry is exploring arrangements to embed journalists with military units during operations to enable more accurate reporting and deeper understanding of operational realities,” he said. He added that the approach aligns with the evolving nature of modern warfare, which includes both kinetic and non‑kinetic dimensions such as information management, strategic communication and community engagement.
Declaring the summit open, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the gathering was timely given the increasing complexity of modern security threats across the world. He noted that terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised crime, separatist agitations and disinformation campaigns have forced nations to rethink traditional approaches to security management. “The relationship between the media and security agencies must therefore be founded on mutual respect, professionalism, trust and an appreciation of their complementary roles,” the minister said.
Idris said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has continued to prioritise security as a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda through military operations, intelligence gathering, technological innovation and community engagement. He highlighted achievements recorded by security agencies, including the neutralisation of terrorists and bandits, the rescue of kidnapped victims, the dismantling of criminal camps, and increased investments in military hardware, intelligence infrastructure and surveillance technology. The minister urged journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in reporting security matters, warning that misinformation and disinformation could undermine national security efforts.
Also speaking, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Civil Society, Chido Onumah, said security agencies and journalists must work together to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and the need to safeguard national security interests. He noted that journalists often face challenges in accessing timely information and underscored the need for security institutions to improve communication and transparency. Ribadu said the Office of the NSA is developing a National Security Strategic Communication Framework to provide a platform for structured information sharing that balances transparency with operational security.
NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, said national security could no longer be left solely in the hands of security agencies, noting that journalists and other stakeholders have critical roles to play in safeguarding the country. Abdullahi described the summit as the fulfilment of a commitment he made upon assuming office to create platforms that would foster collaboration between journalists and institutions responsible for governance and security.
The summit, which ran from Thursday to Friday, also featured presentations by the Minister of Information, the National Security Adviser, and other security chiefs, who all underscored the importance of accurate and responsible reporting in national security management. The Defence Ministry’s announcement of the embedding initiative marks a significant shift in military-media relations, signalling a willingness to give journalists unprecedented access to the front lines of counter‑insurgency operations. For journalists, the plan offers an opportunity to move beyond official briefings and witness military operations first‑hand. For the military, it is a chance to shape the narrative of the war against terror and counter the misinformation that has long fuelled public distrust. Whether the initiative will be implemented with the transparency and consistency it promises remains to be seen, but the announcement has already opened a new chapter in the relationship between the press and the armed forces.
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