The second day of the National Security Summit organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abuja was marked by the disappointing absence of serving security chiefs, undermining the opportunity for frank conversations, confidence-building, and institutional learning. The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” was designed as a platform to foster understanding between the media and security services, two institutions whose responsibilities frequently intersect.
Opening Day Success Contrasts with Second Day Absence
The opening day of the summit drew a diverse audience of journalists, academics, communication specialists, development partners, security personnel, and government officials. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Malam Mohammed Idris Malagi, was the most senior figure in attendance, adding weight to the proceedings. Discussions focused on strategic communication, responsible journalism, national security, and the importance of collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges. However, the second day—designed as the technical session devoted specifically to national security issues—presented a starkly different picture. The security chiefs whose institutions were central to the conversation were conspicuously absent, with many not even sending representatives.
Keynote Address and Historical Context
The keynote speaker, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, president of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, delivered a well-researched paper on the delicate relationship between the media and security institutions. He examined several historical and contemporary cases that highlighted tensions, misunderstandings, and occasional confrontations between journalists and security agencies. During his presentation, he referenced the controversial 2014 incident in which security operatives intercepted newspaper distribution vehicles—an episode that drew widespread criticism from media organizations and civil society groups.
Former Security Officials Provide Clarification
Mr. Mojeed perhaps did not know that one of the principal actors in that period, former Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd), was quietly seated at the back of the hall with a former Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu (rtd). General Olukolade, currently the chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), is not known for reopening old controversies. Yet, on this occasion, he felt compelled to provide clarification. When given the microphone, he explained that at the time, during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, security agencies were grappling with evolving terrorist tactics, including intelligence reports suggesting that insurgents were exploring unconventional methods of transporting weapons and logistics across the country. More importantly, he revealed that the security command later acknowledged public concerns over the incident and apologized. According to him, lessons were learned, and safeguards were introduced to ensure that such actions would not recur. He added that “dialogue often achieves what assumptions cannot.”
Examples of Media-Security Cooperation
Yushau A. Shuaib, the author of “An Encounter with the Spymaster,” was also invited to contribute to the discussion. He highlighted examples of productive collaboration between journalists and security agencies through the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), an initiative once chaired by General Olukolade and later by the late Major General Abubakar Rabe. He recalled the professionalism of editors who placed national interest above sensational headlines. One notable example involved a senior editor of ThisDay newspaper, Ms. Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, who received a late-night request in June 2013 from military authorities regarding a specific word used in a report on insurgency operations. The concern was that publishing certain details could jeopardize an ongoing mission. After reviewing the implications, the newspaper agreed and made the adjustment. The operation was subsequently adjudged successful.
Other Instances of Cooperation
Shuaib also recalled his May 2014 visit to PREMIUM TIMES’ headquarters after a report on an alleged mutiny by soldiers in Borno State. He passionately appealed to the newspaper’s leadership to consider replacing the word “mutiny” with “protest” because of the severe legal implications of mutiny under military law. While the then Managing Editor, Musikilu Mojeed, listened attentively and showed understanding, the story had already gained traction elsewhere. Eventually, some of the affected soldiers were convicted of mutiny. Similarly, he recounted how Mallam Hamza Idris, then Daily Trust Bureau Chief in Borno in February 2015, filed what appeared to be a routine report. Security officials later raised concerns that the unpublished story, though harmless on the surface, could inadvertently expose troop movements and operational plans. After assessing the potential consequences, the editorial leadership of Weekend Daily Trust sacrificed what was scheduled to be a front-page lead in the interest of national security. That same year, two Nigerian journalists working for foreign media were briefly detained in a Borno hotel—an action taken purely for their safety, though widely misinterpreted.
Broader Coordination and Its Impact
During major anti-insurgency operations, senior media executives were routinely briefed. Despite criticisms of SaharaReporters’ style, its publisher, Omoyele Sowore, often showed genuine concern for national security. The then NGE president, Femi Adesina, and the Dean of Bureau Chiefs, Yusuf Alli, can attest to the trust and confidentiality that defined those engagements. The cooperation between the media and security agencies—supported by broader inter-agency coordination through FOSSRA—helped reduce conflict and contributed significantly to the recovery of dozens of towns from terrorist control ahead of the 2015 election. Although FOSSRA was last chaired by General Rabe before being abandoned under the Buhari administration, its strategic value was clear. Recognizing this, NSA Malam Nuhu Ribadu pragmatically revived the mechanism with the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) as technical partner. Unfortunately, that effort was later undermined by unprofessional insiders whose motives remain questionable.
Communiqué and Calls for Future Engagement
The communiqué issued at the end of the two-day summit, signed by NUJ President Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, captured many of the concerns raised during the discussions. Most importantly, participants reaffirmed that national security and sustainable development depend on strong, transparent, and accountable partnerships among the media, security agencies, government institutions, and citizens. It is expected that next time an invitation is extended, security chiefs will honor it—especially when it comes from a respected and trusted ally whose partnership is vital to national security.
