Security agencies and the media have been called upon to cooperate for the common good of the country as they need each other in discharging their statutory duties.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued on Friday in Abuja at the end of a three-day retreat on: “Security/Media Relations in Crisis Management.”
The retreat was organised for media practitioners and security personnel by the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with Trim Communications Nigeria Limited.
The communiqué was signed by Commodore Dickson Olisemenogor, representing security agencies, and Shitu Tela, the Chief Executive of Kebbi Television Service, representing the media.
The communiqué noted that the relationship between the media and security had been turbulent as a result of recent security challenges in the country.
It blamed the frosty relationship on “negative and insensitive” reports by the media, stressing the need for collaboration between them.
The communiqué, therefore, called on the media to be conscious of security issues that must be protected for the overall national interest.
It also noted that failure of security agencies to provide useful information to the media at the right time had negative implications and advised them to issue “user-friendly” releases at conflict situations.
The communiqué recommended that “both the media and security agencies must agree on a common ground for symbiotic relationship as one cannot do without the other.
“That both the security agencies and media should come to agreement on the suitable method to be adopted in reporting security issues.”
The communiqué recommended regular workshops for media practitioners and security personnel to foster positive relations between them.
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