The Nigerian government has said that it will embed journalists with troops during selected military operations as part of efforts to improve accurate security reporting and deepen public understanding of ongoing counterinsurgency and internal security operations.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), Minister of Defence, said this on Thursday at the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Abuja.
The minister, through his special adviser, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole (rtd), said the initiative is aimed at improving collaboration between the media and security agencies and enhancing transparency and public confidence in military operations.
Musa said the media was a critical partner in the management of national security, stressing that modern warfare has now transcended the land, air and maritime domains to include the information space.
He believes that the effectiveness of security outcomes should not only be measured by battlefield success but also by public trust and confidence in security institutions.
“Media is not just an enabler, it is more than ever before a stabiliser of government.
“The defense ministry is looking at ways to embed journalists with military units during operations to enable more accurate reporting and a better understanding of operational realities,” he said.
