NUJ to Host Two-Day National Security Summit in Abuja

By Queen Kunde

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) will next week bring together top security chiefs, government officials, media executives and civil society leaders for a major national conversation on security and responsible information management.

The two-day National Security Summit, scheduled for June 18 and 19 in Abuja, is aimed at strengthening cooperation between journalists and security agencies in the interest of national peace, stability and development.

With the theme, “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” the summit comes at a time when Nigeria continues to face security threats, misinformation and growing public anxiety.

According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, the summit is designed to provide a high-level platform for frank discussions on how the media and security agencies can work more closely to protect the nation and improve public trust.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, are expected as Special Guests of Honour, while the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, will deliver the keynote address.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, will chair the event, while NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, will host participants.

Organisers said the summit will focus on critical issues affecting both the media and security sectors, including responsible reporting of security operations, access to credible information, protection of journalists on dangerous assignments, and strategies for combating fake news, propaganda and hate speech.

Other areas of discussion will include crisis communication, handling sensitive information without jeopardising security operations, and building mutual trust between journalists and security personnel.

The programme will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, breakout sessions, experience-sharing by frontline reporters and interactive sessions with security chiefs.

At the end of the summit, participants are expected to adopt a communiqué and an action plan to guide future engagement between the media and security institutions.

The NUJ said the gathering reflects its commitment to press freedom, professional ethics and the welfare of journalists, while also promoting constructive collaboration with security agencies to safeguard lives, strengthen democracy and support national development.

As Nigeria grapples with evolving security challenges, stakeholders believe the summit could provide a fresh pathway for better communication, improved public confidence and a more secure nation.