NUJ President Says Media Crucial to National Security

The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo has stressed the importance of the media, declaring it as a crucial factor to national security in any nation.

He made the comment while delivering an online lecture titled: National Security Management: The Role of Media at a one-day national dialogue tagged National Security, Trade Facilitation, Border Drill and Implications For Nigerian Economy.

The event was organised by the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM).

Speaking, Isiguzo said all the security agencies for effective strategic implementation of their policies and plans must work with the media as a key stakeholder.

“In recent times, Nigeria is faced with critical national security challenges ranging from kidnapping, terrorism (Boko Haram), inter-tribal wars, farmers /Herders clashes and cultism. No doubt, these pose a lot of problems, setbacks and underdevelopment to the country.

“What then are the roles of the media in information management?    The media is a strategic partner in the fight against insecurity in the country. As the watch dog of the society. The media has been saddled with the age long responsibility of informing, educating and mobilizing the people to show active participation in governance considering that governance cannot be effective without a well enlightened society.

“In the same vein, the media have a vital role to play in monitoring security institutions and helping citizens make informed decisions regarding the security sector.

“No doubt, the security sector is a unique institution and requires a high degree of expertise for the media to effectively discharge its role in that area. The media often encounter several challenges in covering the sector. Governments may restrict access to information or seek to co-opt journalists, while the media may risk internalising official perspectives on perceived threats to national security.

“Reliance on and privileging of official statements, and a lack of expertise on security issues, can undermine the media’s ability to act as a watchdog” he said.

The NUJ President added that: “To play an effective role in overseeing the security sector, journalists must have a degree of protection from intimidation and threats. The media must also among others remain unbiased in their reportage, avoid selective and stereotyped reportage of happenings in the society, avoid biased reportage based on religious sentiments, avoid misleading and sensational headlines which could set the country ablaze or cause disaffection amongst groups or individuals, engage in responsible journalism and avoid fake news.”

He however noted that for effective operations, factors inhibiting the media from performing its role must be addressed.

The factors as listed by him included lack of information from government and security agencies, economic challenges, judicial dependence and media ownership.

Earlier In his opening remarks, President of JIFORM Ajibola Abayomi  noted that the seminar is part of the group’s determination to  consolidate on the desire to widening knowledge on migration and economic issues.

Emphasising that security and economic development are very key to our day to day life, the JIFORM president urge journalists to apply the knowledge and capacity to be derived from lecture to better our countries as media practitioners.

He also called on leaders across the world to do more for media men and other frontliners as they battle the  COVID-19.pandemic.

” By the dictate of the current global pandermic, we are indeed being challenged in different areas of life.

We must be united to defeat the dreaded coronavirus for us to have a better future.

Let me at this juncture call on leaders across the world to do more for media men and other frontliners as we battle COVID-19.

Surveys had revealed especially on the African continent, that the welfare and security of Journalists should be improved upon.

Among other things, the post-survival of the media, health and well-being of citizens and the economy, should be accorded priorities by Nations”, Abayomi stressed.

Going forward,  Abayomi said JIFORM ready to engage other resource persons and institutions across the globe to develop capacity, enrich the understanding of migration concepts coupled with the zeal to consolidate on the advocacy against irregular migration and human trafficking.

Abayomi lauded the leadership contributions of Isiguzo in the Nigerian media and urged him to do more.