By: Kingsley Omonobi

The Director General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab (Rtd.), has called for stronger collaboration between the military and the media to enhance national security and peace in the country.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion with Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Friday, Gen. Wahab emphasized the need for targeted engagement with three key media stakeholders: media owners, editors, and defense correspondents. He noted that strengthening ties with these groups through a three-pronged strategy would build trust and improve cooperation between the military and the press.

The roundtable, themed “National Interest versus National Security: A Quest for Responsible Journalism,” was organized to address gaps in military-media relations and foster a better working relationship.

Gen. Wahab stressed the importance of balancing national security considerations with responsible journalism and called for a mutual understanding between both parties.

“There is a need for both sides to find a way forward,” he said. “That is why the center is involving the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and the military services to address the concerns raised by defense correspondents.”

He further urged the media to consider national security when reporting sensitive military matters, while the military must also take steps to improve transparency and communication.

According to Wahab, effective collaboration must involve three levels of engagement:

Defence correspondents, who report military affairs daily.

The Guild of Editors, responsible for editorial decisions.

Media owners, who influence media policies and content.

“All these layers must work in alignment with the military to project national interest while ensuring security,” he noted.

He emphasized that regular discussions among these key stakeholders would create a common ground for cooperation.

“If, for instance, media owners engage with the Minister of Defence or the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), but the message does not reach editors and correspondents, the effort is wasted,” Wahab said.

The event underscored the military’s commitment to bridging communication gaps with the media, reinforcing trust, and ensuring that national security concerns are effectively managed in news reporting.