By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has described public support as a strategic necessity for the success of Nigerian Army operations across the country.
Oluyede stated this at the opening of the Directorate of Army Public Relations’ combined Third and Fourth Quarters Media Training Seminar, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The seminar has as its theme “Enhancing Responsible Media Reportage of Nigerian Army Operations in a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment for Enhanced National Security.”
Represented by the Commander, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi, the COAS said responsible and balanced reportage was key to strengthening public confidence and sustaining operational successes.
He noted that modern warfare was no longer fought on the battlefield alone but also in the information domain, where perceptions, narratives and public confidence determine strategic outcomes.
“Public perception and accurate information dissemination are critical to operational effectiveness. The synergy between the military and the media is therefore not optional but a strategic imperative,” he said.
Oluyede urged participants to take full advantage of the training to improve their skills in conflict-sensitive reporting, defense communication and fact-based storytelling.
He commended the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, for organising the seminar and sustaining professional initiatives that promote trust and collaboration between the Army and the media.
Earlier in her remarks, Lt.-Col. Anele said the seminar was designed to strengthen military–media synergy and promote responsible reportage that supports national security objectives.
She said in today’s dynamic security environment, misinformation, fake news and artificial intelligence–driven disinformation posed as much threat as enemy propaganda.
“No doubt, warfare is not fought solely with weapons but also in the information domain.
“To defeat hybrid threats, we must counter falsehoods with verified facts and ensure the Nigerian public is accurately informed,” she said.
Anele reaffirmed the Directorate’s commitment to providing timely and credible information to the media while safeguarding national security interests.
She thanked the COAS for his consistent support to the directorate and lauded media partners and spokespersons from sister agencies for their collaboration in strengthening defense–media relations.
In his lecture, a former Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alli Hakeem, called for closer collaboration between the media and the military to enhance national security.
Hakeem spoke on the topic, “Conflict Reporting and National Security: Striking a Balance Between Transparency and Responsibility in Media Practice”.
He urged the military to be proactive in releasing information to the media to avoid speculation and fake news.
Participants of the seminar were drawn for the Public Relations Directorate of the Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies as well as defence correspondents. (NAN)