By Duke Ezeh
ABUJA: The Directorate of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has asked the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to partner with it in promoting responsible reporting, stopping the spread of false information and raising public awareness of critical national infrastructure.
)The request was made during a familiarisation visit by the Directorate’s delegation to the NUJ National Secretariat. Talks focused on the part journalists play in safeguarding critical infrastructure, supporting national security and making sure Nigerians get accurate, verified information.
The delegation voiced concern about the circulation of misleading reports, especially those involving telecommunications and other service providers. According to the team, claims that are inaccurate or lack proof can misinform citizens and weaken public confidence in the country.
Leading the delegation, the Director, Air Vice Marshal Effiom, urged journalists to hold firmly to professional standards by investigating thoroughly and verifying facts before anything is published or aired. He also proposed that the NUJ develop its own guidelines for covering telecommunications and other critical service providers.
In his response, the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, thanked the delegation for recognising the Union as a strategic partner in advancing national security and the public interest.
Yahya pledged the Union’s readiness to work with the Directorate, stressing that responsible journalism is vital to national development, public enlightenment and the protection of the nation’s shared interests. He added that the NUJ is committed to backing initiatives that strengthen the profession and present journalists as agents of positive change, in the media industry and across the country.
The NUJ National Secretary, Mr. Achike Chude, stressed the need for a clear framework to guide the proposed partnership. He pointed to the value of structured engagement between the Union and the Directorate, along with capacity-building programmes that would give journalists the knowledge and skills to report effectively on critical national assets, infrastructure protection and related security matters.
The visit gave both sides a chance to explore areas of cooperation, united by a commitment to accurate, ethical and responsible journalism in service of national security and the public good.
