April 16, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has appealed to the media not to promote terrorists’ propaganda “by giving prominence to their cowardly acts.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal on Wednesday, in his remarks at the Defence Headquarters Quarterly Media Stakeholders Seminar 2025, organised by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations in Abuja.
Represented by the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the Minister urged media stakeholders to deny terrorists the oxygen of publicity by amplifying the heroism of the armed forces, the resilience of affected communities, and the progress being made in the pursuit of peace.
“What the media must not amplify, in the spirit of unity and national cohesion, is negative and incendiary rhetoric that trail communal clashes as seen in recent situations.
“Insecurity and terrorism are not uniquely Nigerian challenges, they are global threats that even the most advanced and sophisticated nations of the world continue to grapple with. From Europe to the Middle East, from North America to Africa, the reality of today’s world is that no country is entirely immune from the scourge of violent extremism and organised criminality.
“However, what truly makes the difference is how nations respond. The Tinubu administration is unrelenting in its commitment to overcoming these threats and ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians. Under the 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration, the cardinal objective is undoubtedly to guarantee our national security through clear and strategic focus on investing in the right tools, systems, and personnel, to secure our nation.
“This includes massive investments in the acquisition of modern military assets, the training and retraining of our armed forces and security personnel, and the strengthening of intelligence-gathering mechanisms across all levels. These efforts reflect the seriousness with which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is confronting the security challenge head-on.
“The media, without a doubt, is a worthy partner in our national security architecture. As the watchdog of society, the press must strike a delicate balance between the public’s right to know and the imperative to protect national interest.”
Also speaking, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, said the seminar “marked a significant milestone in our collective effort to enhance our efficacy of media operations within the frameworks of Nigeria’s defence objectives.”
The CDS, who was represented by Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Sayo Olatunde, said the event was significant due to evolvement of the role of the media in modern warfare beyond its traditional scope of information dissemination.
He said: “Today, media are integral to the execution of tactical, operational and strategic plans and further serve as a powerful tool for shaping public perceptions and opinions while ensuring transparency and accountability among military forces.
“The contemporary security landscape is not only characterised by conventional and asymmetric threats but also involves a battle of narrative among opposing forces. Accordingly, the information space is becoming as equally contested as the battlefield. This implies that how we communicate our mission, counter misinformation and maintain public trust is crucial to the outcome of Joint Task Force operations.
“This is because contemporary military operations do not take place in isolation as every action of a Joint Task Force is constantly subjected to public scrutiny. Implicitly, the way our operations are perceived by local, public and international audiences determines their effectiveness.
“The 24-hour news cycle and social media demand real-time responses requiring Joint Task Force commanders to maintain constant vigilance.
“It is on this premise that it becomes crucial that media operations be professionalised, proactive and fully integrated into operational planning. Accordingly, commanders and media professionals must work together to ensure that the right messages are conveyed at the right time to the right audience.”
In his remarks, Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru, represented by his Senior assistant, Technical, Rtd Major General Ahmed Tinjani, said the military must explore innovative ways to pass adequate information about troops operations to the public.
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