The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has called on Nigerians to embrace responsible citizenship and actively contribute to the fight against the country’s security challenges.
He made this call at the Nigerian Army Tertiary Students and Future Journalists Parley, organized by the African Centre for Media and Inter-Cultural Dialogue and the Nigerian Army, in partnership with the Mass Communication Students Association of the University of Lagos.
The event, which drew dignitaries and students from various tertiary institutions across Lagos State, emphasized the strategic role of the media in military operations.
Oluyede, represented by the Commander of the 9th Brigade, Brig. Gen. Olawale Oyekola, noted that public perception, support, and narrative control are crucial to operational success.
According to Oluyede, key threats to Nigeria’s stability include terrorism, insurgency, banditry, secessionist agitations, farmers-herders conflicts, and communal clashes.
He warned that no army, regardless of its training or equipment, can win a war without the trust and backing of the people.
“The Nigerian Army has since adopted a whole-of-society approach to tackle the security challenges confronting our country.
I implore all citizens to imbibe positive and active security participation,” Oluyede said.
The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, highlighted the sacrifices and contributions of the military to national development, calling for improved public understanding of the armed forces and stronger collaboration with the media.
In an interview, Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, Executive Director of ACMID and a UNILAG lecturer, emphasized the need for a common front for national security.
“We are not saying the media should be apologetic to the military or condone wrongs. What we are saying is that there should be a common front for national security.
The military must respect human rights, and the media and civilians must understand the limits in disseminating sensitive information. National security should come first,” he said.
