The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, has called on media practitioners to uphold factual, balanced, and conflict-sensitive reporting, saying responsible journalism can deny terrorists, bandits, and purveyors of disinformation the \u201coxygen\u201d they rely on to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oluyede made the call on Tuesday through the Director of Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, during the Press Week lecture and awards ceremony organised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking on the theme, \u201c2027 Election: Defending Democracy in the Era of Misinformation,\u201d<\/em> the defence chief described the media as a critical pillar of democracy and national cohesion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe media remains a critical pillar of our democracy and a vital instrument for national cohesion, public enlightenment, and accountability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oluyede noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria had come to recognise the press as an indispensable partner in the nation\u2019s security architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn pursuit of this duty across various theatres of operation, we have come to recognise more than ever that the press is a partner to the military in the collective effort to build a safe, stable, and prosperous nation. This partnership is not one of convenience but of necessity,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him, while the military secures the physical space, the media shapes the information space through narratives capable of influencing public perception, troop morale, and even the outcomes of military operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen reporting is factual, balanced, and conflict-sensitive, it denies oxygen to terrorism, banditry, and disinformation. It builds trust between the armed forces and the people we serve,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDS stressed that the ethical responsibility of journalists has become even more crucial in the digital age where misinformation spreads rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn this digital age where a single tweet can travel faster than a battalion, the ethical responsibility of the press has never been greater,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He urged journalists to verify information before publication, prioritise national interest without compromising the truth, and highlight the sacrifices of troops fighting to maintain peace and security across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI urge you to continue to verify before you publish, to prioritise national interests without sacrificing truth, and to give voice to the sacrifices of our troops who stand in harm\u2019s way so that others may live in peace,\u201d Oluyede said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The defence chief also congratulated the leadership and members of the NUJ FCT Council on the occasion of the press week, commending journalists for their resilience and patriotism despite difficult working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMay your pens continue to defend the truth, and may your work strengthen the unity of our great nation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier, Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, said the press week provided an opportunity for journalists to reflect on the profession and recommit themselves to ethical journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs we move closer to the 2027 general elections, the media must remain vigilant, responsible, and courageous in the face of misinformation, fake news, propaganda, and deliberate attempts to distort public opinion,\u201d Ike said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She added that the media had a sacred responsibility to uphold truth, accountability, and the integrity of Nigeria\u2019s democratic process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, has called on media practitioners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n