By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, says the media must understand what constitute national interest and national security in the quest to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
Wahab said this on Friday in Abuja, at a Round-table with members of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN).
The round-table had as its theme: “National Interest versus National Security: A Quest for Responsible Journalism”.
He said that the media had huge responsibility in ensuring that the reportage of military activities and operations does not jeopardise national security.
According to him, the western media will never report anything that brings disrepute to their militaries.
He therefore urged the Nigerian media to refrain from reporting issues that would have negative impact on the military personnel and troops.
Wahab also said that the level of distrust between the military and the media must be addressed with a view for them to work together.
“We must all work as a team to ensure that the system moves on. In a modern society like Nigeria, security is development and development is security.
“Without security, you can’t be developed. And without development, you can’t be secured. The two go together. So, we are pursuing security for us to be developed,” he said.
The NARC DG disagreed with the belief by a section of the populace that military personnel were often hostile to civilians.
He explained that the current Nigerian Armed Forces had undergone series of transformation since the return of democracy to the country.
According to him, all the service arms of the military have established their Department of Civil Military Affairs to be able to relate positively and harmoniously with the civil populace.
He urged the media to play active role in changing the narratives, by educating the citizens on their responsibilities in supporting the efforts of the military.
Wahab disclosed that the centre had since its establishment in 2016 as a think-tank of the Nigerian Army, played crucial roles in capacity development of officers and soldiers as well as other security personnel and stakeholders.
He called for strengthening of all security, intelligence and paramilitary agencies to enable them address the national security challenges. (NAN