The Directorate of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has sought collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to promote responsible reporting, curb misinformation and strengthen public awareness of issues relating to critical national infrastructure.
The delegation made the appeal during a familiarisation visit to the NUJ National Secretariat, where discussions centred on the role of journalists in protecting critical infrastructure, promoting national security and ensuring that the public receives accurate and verified information.
The delegation expressed concern over the spread of misleading information, particularly reports involving telecommunications and other service providers, noting that inaccurate or unsubstantiated claims could misinform the public and undermine confidence in the country.
The Director, Air Vice Marshal Effiom, who led the delegation, urged journalists to uphold professional standards by conducting thorough investigations and verifying information before publication or broadcast. He also called for the development of NUJ-led guidelines to guide media coverage of telecommunications and other critical service providers.
Responding, the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, appreciated the delegation for recognising the Union as a strategic partner in advancing national security and the public interest.
Yahya assured the delegation of the Union’s willingness to collaborate with the Directorate, stressing that responsible journalism remains essential to national development, public enlightenment and the promotion of the country’s collective interests.
He expressed the NUJ’s commitment to supporting initiatives that would strengthen professional journalism and position journalists as agents of positive change in the media industry and the country at large.
Also speaking, the NUJ National Secretary, Mr. Achike Chude, emphasised the need for a clear framework to guide the proposed collaboration. He highlighted the importance of structured engagement between the Union and the Directorate, as well as capacity-building programmes to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills required to report effectively on critical national assets, infrastructure protection and related security issues.
The visit provided an opportunity for both parties to explore areas of mutual cooperation, with a shared commitment to promoting accurate, ethical and responsible journalism in support of national security and the public interest.
