By: Abdullahi Ibrahim, Yola
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is set to host a two-day National Security Summit in Abuja aimed at strengthening collaboration between the media and security agencies to enhance national security, crisis communication, and public trust.
Scheduled for June 18 and 19, 2026, the summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” will bring together top government officials, security chiefs, media executives, editors, civil society groups, and other stakeholders from across the country.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, disclosed in a statement that the summit is designed as a high-level platform for constructive engagement on the critical role of the media and security institutions in safeguarding national stability and development.
According to the statement, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, will attend as Special Guests of Honour, while the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, is expected to deliver the keynote address.
The National President of the NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, will host the event, while the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, will chair the occasion.
Oyetunde noted that the summit is coming at a crucial period when Nigeria continues to face multifaceted security challenges, rising cases of misinformation, and growing public concerns over safety and security.
She emphasized that structured engagement between journalists and security agencies has become imperative for improving crisis communication, combating fake news, preventing public panic, and ensuring the dissemination of accurate and timely information.
The summit will focus on key issues including responsible reporting of security operations and conflicts, access to credible information and official briefings, management of sensitive information without jeopardizing security operations, protection of journalists covering security beats, and strategies for countering disinformation, propaganda, and hate speech.
Participants will also explore ways of building mutual trust, understanding, and respect between media practitioners and security personnel.
The programme will feature goodwill messages, a keynote presentation, panel discussions, breakout sessions, interactive engagements with security chiefs, and experience-sharing sessions by journalists reporting from conflict and security zones.
At the end of the summit, participants are expected to adopt a communiqué outlining practical recommendations and a framework for sustained engagement between the media and security institutions.
The NUJ reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom, promoting professional journalism, and ensuring the safety and welfare of media practitioners across the country.
The union stressed that while the media must continue to hold leaders and institutions accountable, it also has a vital role to play in supporting national cohesion, protecting lives, and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic and security architecture.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists remains the umbrella body for practising journalists in the country and continues to champion initiatives that promote professional excellence, peace, security, and national development.
