Hassan Turaki.
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, has called on the media and security agencies to build mutual trust and professionalism to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
Yahya made the call on Tuesday during a press conference in Abuja ahead of the NUJ National Security Summit themed: “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building.”He said
The summit was convened because national security requires collective responsibility from all stakeholders.
According to him, the media and security institutions occupy strategic positions in shaping public discourse, promoting peace, and strengthening national cohesion.
“As the watchdog of society, the media has a constitutional responsibility to inform, educate, and hold authorities accountable.
At the same time, security agencies remain critical partners in protecting lives and safeguarding the sovereignty of our nation,” he stated.
The NUJ President explained that the summit will provide a platform for media practitioners, security experts, and government officials to discuss responsible security reporting, combating misinformation, and improving access to credible information.
Yahya stressed that the summit is not meant to undermine press freedom or the operational duties of security agencies.
He added that it is designed to deepen understanding and establish a framework for cooperation that benefits Nigerians.“We believe a well-informed society is a safer society.
Journalists must report security matters with accuracy and sensitivity, while security agencies must appreciate the media as an essential partner in democratic governance,” he said.He urged journalists to support the initiative by creating awareness to ensure the summit’s objectives receive wide public attention.
The NUJ National Security Summit is expected to bring together stakeholders to examine emerging security threats and explore stronger collaboration between the media and security institutions.
