The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has advocated the adoption of development journalism for sustainable practices to defeat terrorists’ propaganda and security threats in the country.
The CDS reiterated that the actions of the military in ensuring Nigeria’s national security accounts for only 30 per cent of the overall efforts required while the remaining 70 per cent for maintaining Nigeria’s peace and security rests on the socio-economic elements of the country.
He said national security is too sensitive to rely solely on military strength but rather should be strengthened by Nigeria’s educated, healthy and socially cohesive population underpinned by development journalism.
Gen. Musa said, “In the area of defence beats, development journalism seeks to promote public awareness and understanding of defence as well as security issues, while holding governments, the defence sector and other stakeholders accountable for their actions as well as informing decision-making by policymakers and defence officials.
“The adoption of a development journalism approach allows for a more active collaboration with journalists and media organizations, enabling them to play a more effective role in promoting national cohesion and stability thereby advancing Nigeria’s national interest.”
General Musa spoke at a one-day roundtable discussion on National Security for Defence Correspondents with the theme “National Security and National Interest: A Development Journalism Approach for the Defence Beat”, organised by the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja on Thursday.
He said: “our national security cannot and should not solely be reliant on the strength of the Armed Forces of Nigeria rather it should be strengthened by Nigeria’s educated, healthy and socially cohesive population underpinned by development journalism.
He continued, “the development journalism approach will not only require collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders, it will also focus on people centrism in the accomplishment of Nigeria’s national interest.”
He said the approach thus resonates with his leadership concept, which is “to nurture a Professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is People-Centric, Capable of Meeting its Constitutional Responsibilities in a Joint and Collaborative Environment.
“Going forward, it is important we continue to frame the defence beat through a development journalism lens through various options available including the continuous prioritization of human security, adoption of investigative reporting on policy impact and the real-world implications as well as promoting dialogue, inclusivity and stakeholders’ engagement through available fora.
“We will also need to advocate for sustainable practices through reporting on innovative practices in defence as well as using available data to tell the stories as evidence-based outcomes allows for a more informed public discourse.”
“These options will engender trust and cooperation between the military, civil society and other stakeholders and enhance contextual understanding of local dynamics for enhanced social cohesion and effective collaboration,” the CDS added.
The National Coordinator, NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said journalists, especially those assigned to defence and security beats play pivotal role in shaping public perception and policy on critical issues of national security and interests.
He said kournalists through reporting, analysis and storytelling, inform members of the public and have the power to influence strategies, people’s actions and reactions.
“Having been in this military career for a while, I must attest to the fact that our defence and security correspondents have been an immense wealth of expertise and experience. Most of you have reported on the frontlines, analysed trends and followed the intricate network that sustained these threats to our national security and interests.
“You have confronted not just the facts, but also the responsibility to report with accuracy, fairness and sensitivity in an environment that is often fraught with misinformation and heightened emotions,” Gen. Laka stated.
He assured that the Center would continue to collaborate with the media and other critical stakeholders to achieve and sustain the destruction of terrorists’ propaganda.
The Special Assistant to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, represented by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, called on journalists to put national interest first before duty.
He said journalism is a documentation of history, hence the need to consider the impact of stories before putting them out.
“You must love the place that you are in, You must love your country, and your country will thrive. If you put anything ahead of our country, then we’re not getting it right. Most times, we look at money and so we downgrade our country…. if your country goes down, you’re also going down with it. And without a stable country, you can’t be even there to practice. But if that’s one key area that we really need to look at, that we must love our country, it’s only when you love your country you can protect it,” he said.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, represented by the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba-Ndace, said the war against insurgency cannot be won on the noozle of the gun but by winning the hearts of the people.