DHQ, media strengthen partnership against fake news

Abuja: The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has pledged stronger collaboration with journalists to combat fake news, promote responsible journalism and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, gave the assurance while receiving the executives of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the President of DECAN, Mr Sunday Odita.

In his remarks, Uba described defence correspondents as strategic partners in promoting national security and fostering public confidence in the Armed Forces.

He said the growing threats of misinformation, disinformation, social media manipulation and artificial intelligence had made responsible defence reporting more critical than ever.

The DDI urged journalists to verify information through official military channels before publication and avoid disseminating classified or sensitive operational information.

According to him, responsible journalism denies adversaries the opportunity to exploit false narratives capable of creating fear, eroding public confidence or undermining military operations.

Uba assured DECAN that Defence Headquarters would continue engaging the media through regular briefings, interviews, media tours and capacity-building programmes while maintaining operational security.

He welcomed the association’s plan to launch The Defence Correspondent Magazine, describing it as a timely initiative capable of attracting support from defence stakeholders and advertisers.

The defence spokesman also assured the association that its requests for a Defence Correspondents Press Centre and a dedicated operational bus would receive due consideration.

He conveyed the appreciation of the Chief of Defence Staff to defence correspondents for their professional coverage of military activities and urged sustained collaboration in promoting peace and national security.

Earlier, Odita described the relationship between Defence Headquarters and defence correspondents as a strategic partnership in advancing national security through responsible journalism.

He said while troops defend the nation’s territorial integrity on the battlefield, journalists complement their efforts by informing, educating and shaping public understanding through factual and balanced reporting.

Odita commended the Defence Headquarters for granting journalists access to operational theatres, saying the initiative had enhanced the credibility and accuracy of reports on military operations.

He appealed for more regular operational briefings to enable journalists verify facts and effectively counter misinformation, disinformation and hostile propaganda.

The DECAN president also sought Defence Headquarters’ support for the planned launch of The Defence Correspondent magazine and the establishment of a dedicated press centre to improve media operations.