The Federal Government is exploring arrangements to embed journalists with military units during operations to enable more accurate reporting and deeper understanding of operational realities.
Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, disclosed the plan on Thursday while speaking at an event in Abuja. “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.
Musa said the initiative was part of broader efforts by the ministry to strengthen engagement with the media and ensure that information about military operations is conveyed accurately to the public. He stressed that improved cooperation between journalists and security agencies would contribute to building public trust and enhancing national security outcomes.
The proposed arrangement comes as Nigeria continues to battle multiple security challenges, including insurgency. Security agencies have often faced criticism over limited access to operational areas, a situation that has sometimes fuelled misinformation, conflicting reports and public skepticism about developments on the frontlines.
“More than ever before, the media are not only enablers; they are stabilizers of government,” the minister stated.
Military authorities have repeatedly called for stronger media partnership. The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, recently urged journalists to understand military activities to reflect them well. “The role the media play in covering military programmes is crucial, and it is important that you understand us to be able to reflect our activities well,” he said. “Also, through your work, we are able to get feedback on the impact of our programmes, our activities, and our operations.”
Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu has also stressed that media collaboration is key to military operations and a strategic necessity for public support. He noted that through collaboration, understanding and professionalism, accurate and responsible reporting, the media could guide the public narrative, particularly during internal security operations and crises.
