By: Mallam Abba
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) will convene a two-day National Security Summit in Abuja on June 18 and 19, 2026, aimed at strengthening collaboration between the media and security agencies in the interest of national stability and development.
The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” is expected to bring together senior government officials, heads of security agencies, media executives, editors, civil society groups and other critical stakeholders from across the country.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
Oyetunde said the summit was conceived as a high-level platform for dialogue on ways journalists and security operatives could work together more effectively in safeguarding the country, managing information during crises and strengthening public confidence in national institutions.
She said the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, would serve as Special Guests of Honour at the event.
According to her, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, will deliver the keynote address, while the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, will host the gathering.
She added that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, would chair the occasion.
Oyetunde noted that the summit was coming at a time when Nigeria continued to grapple with complex security challenges, the spread of misinformation and growing public anxiety over security issues.
She said the union believed that structured engagement between the media and security agencies was essential to improving crisis communication, preventing panic, countering fake news and ensuring citizens received accurate and timely information.
According to her, participants will examine a range of issues, including responsible reporting of security operations and conflicts, access to credible information and official briefings, and the management of sensitive information without compromising security operations.
Other areas of discussion include the protection and safety of journalists covering security beats, countering disinformation, propaganda and hate speech, as well as building mutual trust and respect between journalists and security personnel.
The committee chairman said the programme would feature goodwill messages, a keynote presentation, panel discussions, breakout sessions, experience-sharing by frontline reporters and interactive question-and-answer sessions with security chiefs.
She added that the summit would conclude with the adoption of a communiqué and an agreed framework of action to guide future engagement between the media and security institutions.
Oyetunde reaffirmed the NUJ’s commitment to defending press freedom, upholding professional ethics and promoting the safety and welfare of journalists across the country.
She stressed that while the media must continue to hold power accountable, it should also work constructively with security agencies to protect lives, preserve national cohesion and strengthen democratic governance.
The NUJ, she said, remains the umbrella body for practising journalists in Nigeria and continues to champion policies and programmes that promote professional excellence, peace, security and national development.(Northern Post)
