Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime and other security threats cannot be won without stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies, describing fake news and disinformation as growing dangers to national security.
Speaking at the National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, Idris called for a closer partnership between journalists and security institutions to effectively combat both physical and information-based threats confronting the nation.
The minister noted that the media and security agencies occupy critical positions in preserving national stability and must work together to strengthen public trust, promote national unity and support development.
According to him, while security agencies are responsible for protecting lives, property and national sovereignty, the media serves as the bridge between government and citizens and plays a vital role in safeguarding the national interest.
“Both institutions share a common objective — safeguarding the national interest and promoting peace, unity and development,” Idris said.
He observed that Nigeria is currently grappling with increasingly complex security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, organised criminal activities, separatist agitations, as well as the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
The minister cautioned that irresponsible reporting and the dissemination of unverified information could undermine security operations, heighten tensions and weaken public confidence in government institutions.
“National security is not served when misinformation is amplified without verification. Neither is it served when legitimate public concerns are ignored. The challenge before us is to strike the right balance between the public’s right to know and the imperative of protecting national security,” he stated.
Idris further disclosed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has made security a central pillar of its Renewed Hope Agenda, adopting a comprehensive strategy that combines military operations, intelligence gathering, technological innovation, inter-agency collaboration and community engagement.
Highlighting recent achievements by security agencies, the minister said hundreds of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements had been neutralised or arrested, while several criminal hideouts and camps had been dismantled across different parts of the country.
He expressed confidence that stronger cooperation between the media and security agencies would contribute significantly to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges and safeguarding national peace and stability.
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