The Federal Government is considering a new policy that would allow journalists to accompany military personnel during selected operations as part of efforts to improve security reporting and public understanding of counterinsurgency efforts.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed the plan on Thursday at a National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja.
He was represented at the event by his Special Adviser, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole.
According to the Defence Minister, the proposed initiative is aimed at strengthening collaboration between the media and security agencies, while also promoting transparency in military operations. He said the media now plays a strategic role in shaping public perception of security efforts, noting that modern warfare increasingly extends beyond the battlefield into the realm of information and narratives.
Musa added that the effectiveness of security operations should not be measured only by battlefield outcomes, but also by the level of public trust in security institutions.
He explained that the ministry is exploring arrangements to embed journalists with military units during operations to enable more accurate reporting and a better understanding of operational realities. “More than ever before, the media are not only enablers; they are stabilizers of government,” he said.
The Defence Minister also noted that stronger cooperation between journalists and security agencies would help curb misinformation and improve public confidence in ongoing security operations.
The proposal comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with multiple security challenges, including insurgency. Security agencies have in the past faced criticism over limited media access to operational zones, a situation that has sometimes contributed to conflicting reports, misinformation, and public skepticism about frontline developments.
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