The Nigerian Army has reiterated the need for deeper collaboration between security agencies and the media as it grapples with increasingly complex security challenges across the country.

This call was made during the opening of a special edition of the Department of Civil-Military Affairs Training for Media Operatives on Tuesday in Abuja.

The event, hosted at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, brought together media executives, senior military officials, security agency heads, and practicing journalists from across the country.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, who was represented at the event by Gbemiga Adesina, Director-General of the Nigerian Heritage and Future Centre, said the training could not have come at a better time.

He noted that as Nigeria contends with security threats on multiple fronts, media collaboration is essential to preserving national stability without compromising the press’s critical role in democracy.

“The changing security landscape demands evolving approaches, not only from the military but also from institutions like the media.

“This forum is designed to deepen the functional knowledge of media practitioners about military operations and ensure that reportage of such activities is accurate, responsible, and not detrimental to operational security,” Oluyede said.

He explained that, historically, both the military and the media have played vital roles in safeguarding national integrity and citizen welfare.

While the military protects the country’s territorial borders and citizens, the media provides the public with timely, truthful information.

The challenge, he said, lies in striking a balance between transparency and the need for operational confidentiality.

Oluyede acknowledged the presence of media professionals and security personnel alike and lauded their shared commitment to nation-building.

“Since both groups fight for Nigerians, we are all on the same page, working for a safe Nigeria where every life matters,” he added.

In his welcome remarks, Gold Chibuisi, Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need for a “whole-of-society” approach in addressing the country’s security problems.

“Today’s media space is not just a platform for information sharing—it has become a warfare domain of its own.

“Information, misinformation, propaganda, and sensationalism all have real consequences for troop morale, operational effectiveness, and even national cohesion,” Chibuisi said.

Chibuisi emphasized that the training was not meant to curtail press freedom but to bridge the knowledge gap between the media and security agencies.

He said the Nigerian Army believes that a well-informed media is a strategic ally in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.

“This training is more than an academic exercise. It is a strategic collaboration aimed at helping journalists understand military doctrine and the realities of warfare, so that their reporting is insightful, accurate, and nationally responsible,” he noted.

The event will feature presentations and interactive sessions with military experts and communication specialists aimed at strengthening mutual trust between journalists and the armed forces.

Chibuisi thanked the Chief of Army Staff for his continued support in promoting civil-military relations and driving the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a more professional and combat-ready force capable of operating effectively in joint and multi-agency environments.

The training, he said, seeks to equip the participants with an enhanced understanding of military operations and a reinforced sense of national duty in their reporting roles.