NUJ Security Summit tasks FG on improved funding for security agencies, deployment of modern technology to fight security challenge
By Ali Baba-Inuwa
Participants at the maiden Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Security Summit in Abuja, have tasked the Federal Government to increase its budgetary allocation to security agencies as well as deploy modern technology and intelligence systems to fight security challenges in the country.
The participants stated this in a communique at the end of the summit with the theme” The Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building”,organised by the NUJ in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS).
They observed that Nigeria had continued to face complex and multidimensional security challenges and reaffirmed that national security was a shared responsibility.
The participants observed that sustainable security required a whole-of-society approach integrating security operations, strategic communication, socio-economic development, and inclusive governance and advised security agencies to adopt transparent, timely, and coordinated communication strategies to counter misinformation and build public confidence.
They observed that the media play a critical role in shaping public discourse, countering misinformation, and promoting accountability and urged media organisations to strengthen fact-checking systems and uphold high ethical standards, particularly in security-related reporting.
The participants observed that dialogue-based mechanisms such as ombudsman systems, self-regulation, and judicial processes were preferable to coercive responses in resolving disputes and advised the government to always address conflicts through legal and professional frameworks that uphold press freedom and due process.
They observed that the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation posed a serious threat to public trust and social cohesion and called for regular joint training programmes for journalists, editors, and security communication officers.
The participants observed that women and youth remain vital but underutilised resources in peacebuilding and resilience building and urged the government to increase investment in education, youth empowerment, and social protection programmes to address root causes of insecurity.
The participants observed that drug abuse and illicit substance use were significant drivers of criminality and insecurity and called for intensified campaigns by stakeholders, including the NDLEA, religious bodies, and educational institutions, against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
They observed that socio-economic factors, including unemployment and poverty, had continued to exacerbate insecurity in Nigeria and
The participants also recommended that the outcomes of the summit should be integrated into national security and communication frameworks for effective execution.
They also urged State Governments to increase funding and institutional support for state-owned media organisations to improve efficiency and professionalism, while maintaining strict adherence to ethical standards and editorial independence.
The Summit was attended by broad spectrum of stakeholders, including media executives, journalists, heads of security and intelligence agencies, government officials, policymakers, academics, civil society organisations, representatives of women’s groups, and development partners.
