The Federal Government has revealed plans to consider allowing journalists to accompany troops during selected military operations in a bid to improve transparency and enhance public understanding of security issues across the country.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this on Thursday at a security summit in Abuja organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He was represented at the event by Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole.
According to him, the proposal is aimed at strengthening collaboration between the military and the media, ensuring more accurate reporting of operational activities and reducing misinformation in the public space.
He said:
“More than ever before, the media are not only enablers; they are stabilizers of government.”
He further explained that the Defence Ministry is exploring arrangements to embed journalists within military units during operations so they can directly observe and report developments on the ground.
“The defence ministry is exploring arrangements to embed journalists with military units during operations to enable more accurate reporting and deeper understanding of operational realities,” he stated.
The minister added that such collaboration would help reduce fake news, build public trust, and improve the relationship between security agencies and citizens. He also emphasized that success in security operations is not only measured by battlefield outcomes but also by public confidence and perception.
