COAS seeks Media Alliance to Foster National Unity, Combat insecurity
The Chief of Army Staff,Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has urged media practitioners to become active participants in promoting peace and national cohesion through objective and factual reporting.
He spoke at the 2023 Media Workshop, today, organized by the Directorate of Army Public Relations and the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Lagbaja emphasized the media’s critical role in shaping public narratives and garnering support for the armed forces.
The workshop, themed “Harnessing the Potentials of Media for Effective Military Operations within a Joint Environment,” provided a platform for “elaborate discussions, cross fertilization of ideas, clarifications and appreciable synergy” among participants, according to the Army Chief.
He was represented at the workshop with the theme, “Harnessing the Potentials of Media for Effective Military Operations within a Joint Environment”, by the Commander Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Maj.-Gen. Adeleke Ayannuga
He expressed confidence that the caliber of resource persons and the workshop’s focus on joint operations would generate new ideas to enhance national security.
Lagbaja specifically called on participants to leverage the knowledge gained to combat criminal activities that threaten national unity.
He stressed the importance of effective information sharing and collaboration across all stakeholders, highlighting this as the key to achieving “workable strategy and enhanced mutual support.”
The Army Chief’s passion for public relations was evident in his decision to establish a state-of-the-art NASPRI school, recognizing it as the “factory that produces the manpower capacity for the image makers of Nigerian Army.”
He pledged continued development of the school to bring it on par with global institutions, commending the organizers for hosting the workshop at such a crucial time.
Acting NASPRI Commandant Lt. Col.Adamu Ngulde echoed the Army Chief’s commitment , stating that the workshop’s theme aligns perfectly with Lagbaja’s vision of transforming the Nigerian Army into a “Well-trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force.”
He further emphasized the media’s pivotal role in modern warfare, urging participants to embrace their responsibility as partners in national security.
“The urgent need to eliminate and avoid media antipathy cannot be over emphasized as its implications pose greater threats on national security. This is necessary because the security challenges confronting our dear nation require a robust synergy between the security agencies and the media while playing their various roles in maintaining national security.
“The consequences of discordant relationship between security agencies and the media can culminate into increased public apathy or diminished public trust in the abilities of security agencies to perform their constitutional roles.
“The engagement of the military in internal security operations has exposed them to operational challenges arising from day to day process in carrying out their duty. Thus the need to woo public support through winning the hearts and minds of the populace for the success of these operations becomes inevitable. In order toachieve this, the media is the perfect tool that cannot be replaced”, he said.
