Idris Tasks Media, Security Agencies On Stronger Collaboration To Tackle Nigeria’s Security Challenges
By Sunday Etuka
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies, saying the two institutions must work together as the country confronts increasingly complex and technology-driven security threats.
Idris made the call while speaking on Thursday at a National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), held in Abuja, with the theme: “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building.”
In his address, the Minister commended the NUJ and the DSS for creating a platform that brought together the media, security agencies, government institutions, academia and civil society to deliberate on national security.
He noted that nations worldwide are being forced to rethink traditional security approaches in the face of terrorism, cybercrime, misinformation, organised crime, and separatist agitations, challenges he said Nigeria as Africa’s most populous nation, was not immune to.
He described the media and security agencies as occupying complementary positions in nation-building, with the security agency protecting lives, property and sovereignty, while the media serves as a watchdog and a bridge between the government and the citizens.
“Security operations require discretion, accuracy and strategic communication,” he said, adding that the relationship between both institutions must be built on mutual respect, professionalism and trust.
The Minister went on to highlight what he described as significant security gains recorded under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing the elimination of several terrorist commanders, the dismantling of criminal hideouts, and the rescue of hundreds of kidnapped victims by the Armed Forces working with intelligence agencies.
According to him, military offensives had degraded terrorist capabilities in the North-East, while intensified operations against banditry and kidnapping had yielded results in the North-West and North-Central.
He added that the government had also invested in modern military equipment, surveillance technology, personnel capacity building, alongside economic reforms and youth empowerment programmes aimed at tackling the root causes of insecurity.
Turning to the media’s role, Idris warned that the spread of false narratives and unverified information on digital platforms posed a threat to national security.
“National security is not served when misinformation is amplified without verification. Neither is it served when legitimate public concerns are ignored,” he said, urging journalists to uphold professionalism, accuracy and ethical reporting, while calling on security agencies to reciprocate with timely and credible information that builds public trust.
He assured participants that the Federal Government remained committed to fostering constructive engagement between the media and security institutions through dialogue, capacity building and public enlightenment, and described security and nation-building as a shared responsibility involving the government, media, civil society, traditional and religious institutions, and citizens.
The Minister commended the NUJ and the DSS for the initiative and expressed hope that the summit’s deliberations would strengthen collaboration between the media and security agencies and ultimately contribute to a safer and more united Nigeria.
