By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies, describing it as essential for safeguarding national security, building public trust, and advancing Nigeria’s development agenda.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Idris said both institutions play critical roles in promoting peace, stability, and national unity.
The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” brought together senior government officials, security chiefs, media executives, communication professionals, and other stakeholders.
According to the minister, the media and security agencies occupy strategic positions in the nation’s development architecture and share a common responsibility to protect the national interest.
“While security agencies are entrusted with protecting lives, property, and national sovereignty, the media serves as the watchdog of society, the marketplace of ideas, and the bridge between government and citizens. Both institutions share a common objective: safeguarding the national interest and promoting peace, unity, and development,” he said.
Idris stressed that effective collaboration anchored on professionalism, trust, mutual respect, and an understanding of complementary roles would strengthen national security and boost public confidence in government institutions.
He noted that Nigeria continues to face evolving security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organized crime, misinformation, separatist agitations, and other emerging threats that require coordinated responses.
The minister said the administration of President Bola Tinubu has prioritized security under its Renewed Hope Agenda through a comprehensive approach that combines military operations, intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, technological innovation, and community engagement.
He highlighted achievements recorded by security agencies, including the arrest and neutralization of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements, as well as the rescue of hundreds of abducted victims across the country.
According to him, sustained military operations have continued to weaken terrorist groups in the North-East, while intensified efforts against banditry and kidnapping in the North-West and North-Central have yielded encouraging results.
Idris also disclosed that the Federal Government has invested significantly in modern military hardware, intelligence infrastructure, surveillance technology, and personnel training to enhance operational effectiveness and improve responses to emerging security threats.
Beyond security operations, he said the Tinubu administration remains committed to tackling the root causes of insecurity through economic reforms, youth empowerment initiatives, infrastructure development, education, and social intervention programmes.
The minister underscored the importance of responsible journalism, particularly in an era where misinformation, fake news, and disinformation spread rapidly across digital platforms.
“National security is not served when misinformation is amplified without verification. Neither is it served when legitimate public concerns are ignored. The challenge before us is to strike the right balance between the public’s right to know and the imperative of protecting national security,” he stated.
He urged journalists to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accuracy, fairness, and ethical reporting, while encouraging security agencies to strengthen engagement with the media through timely, transparent, and credible communication.
Idris reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to fostering constructive engagement between the media and security institutions through dialogue, strategic communication, capacity-building programmes, and public enlightenment campaigns.
Describing security as a collective responsibility, he called on citizens, communities, civil society organizations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to actively contribute to building a peaceful, united, and prosperous Nigeria.
The minister commended the NUJ and the DSS for organizing the summit and expressed confidence that its deliberations would produce practical recommendations to deepen cooperation between the media and security agencies in support of national security objectives.
Among dignitaries at the event were Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace; the Inspector-General of Police, represented by Assistant Inspector-General Miller Dantawaye; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), represented by Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics Dankolo Shehu Mohammed; President and Chairman of Council of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku; and NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya.
