The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has urged media to use responsible and conflict-sensitive reporting as a major weapon for safeguarding national security. He made the request on Tuesday during the lecture and awards event during the press week sponsored by the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Brigadier General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, who represented the General Oluyede, said that the ethical obligation of the press has never been stronger in today’s digital age. “The media is a crucial pillar of our democracy and a vital instrument for national cohesion, public enlightenment and accountability,” the Defence chief said.
The military looks at the press as a crucial collaborator in the formation of a nation towards a secure and prosperous country, he said. “The military guards the physical space, the media guards the information space. “The narratives you project have an impact on public perception, on the morale of the troops and even on the strategic outcome of military operations,” General Oluyede said.
The chief of defence warned that unconfirmed and sensational news could unwittingly benefit those trying to disrupt the country. “When reporting is factual, balanced and conflict-sensitive, it denies oxygen to terrorism, banditry and disinformation. It creates confidence between the military and the people we serve,” he said.
General Oluyede advised media practitioners to always crosscheck facts before publication and to put national interests above everything at all times without compromising the truth. “I urge you to continue to verify your facts before you publish, to put national interests first but not at the expense of the truth, and to acknowledge the sacrifices being made by our troops who put themselves in the line of fire so that others may live in peace,” added the military chief.
He also recognised the difficult conditions in which journalists often work, praising their tenacity and bravery. NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Grace Ike said the Council shared the concerns of General Oluyede and called for responsible and diligent reporting by journalists in the face of disinformation and fake news ahead of the 2027 general elections in the country.
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