By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says that military efforts to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty could be enhanced through development journalism.

Musa stated this at the Roundtable Discussion on Nigeria’s Security and National Interest organised by the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on Thursday in Abuja.

The roundtable was organised for members of the Defence Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (DECAN).

He said that development journalism sought 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.

According to him, the adoption of a development journalism approach allows for a more active collaboration with journalists and media organisations, enabling them to play a more effective role in promoting national cohesion and stability thereby advancing Nigeria’s national interest.

“Therefore, 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.

“More so, 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.

“This approach thus resonates with my 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” he said.

The CDS said that defence beat should be tailored through a development journalism lens through various options available.

The options, according to him include the continuous prioritisation 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.

He also called for the 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.

“Today’s occasion presents me the rare opportunity to make a statement on the critical role of the media in fostering Nigeria’s national security and defence matters thus necessitating collaboration to further Nigeria’s national security interest.

“The theme for the discussion: ‘National Security and National Interest: A Development Journalism Approach for the Defence Beat’ is apt.

“This is in considering the propensity of development and sits at the intersection of national pride, global responsibility as well as the pursuit of peaceful coexistence and sustainable development,“ he added.

Musa commended the NCTC for its efforts towards enhancing development journalism.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said that journalists were pivotal in shaping public perception and policy on critical issues of national security and interests.

Laka said that journalists had the responsibility to report with accuracy, fairness and sensitivity in an environment that was often fraught with misinformation and heightened emotions.

He pledged the centre’s readiness to continue to collaborate with the media and other critical stakeholders to achieve and sustain the destruction of terrorist propaganda.

He said the objective of this roundtable discussion was to foster an open and insightful exchange of ideas.

“By sharing your experiences, observations and challenges, together we aim to enhance collective understanding of the dynamics of terrorism and its evolving tactics and discover the ethical considerations of reporting on such sensitive issues,” he said.

The Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, represented by the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba-Ndace, commended the centre for organising the roundtable.

He urged the centre and the military to sustain such media engagement to be able to counter the terrorists’ narratives.

He also urged the media to maintain responsible reporting bearing in mind national security and national interest.