The Directorate of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Protection in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has sought the collaboration of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to combat misinformation and promote responsible reporting on critical national infrastructure.
The Directorate made the request during a familiarisation visit to the NUJ National Secretariat, where both parties discussed the role of the media in protecting national assets, strengthening public awareness and supporting national security through accurate and verified information.
The delegation, led by the Director, Air Vice Marshal Effiom, expressed concern over the spread of misleading reports, particularly those concerning telecommunications companies and other critical service providers.
It noted that inaccurate or unsubstantiated reports could mislead the public and undermine confidence in essential services, stressing the need for journalists to uphold professional standards in their coverage of issues relating to critical national infrastructure.
Effiom urged journalists to conduct thorough investigations and verify information before publication or broadcast. He also called for the development of NUJ-led guidelines to guide media coverage of telecommunications companies and other critical service providers.
In his response, the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, welcomed the Directorate’s recognition of the Union as a strategic partner in advancing national security and protecting the public interest.
Yahya assured the delegation of the NUJ’s readiness to collaborate with the Directorate, noting that responsible journalism remains essential to national development, public enlightenment and the promotion of the country’s collective interests.
He reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to supporting initiatives that would strengthen professional journalism and encourage journalists to contribute positively to national development.
Also speaking, the NUJ National Secretary, Mr Achike Chude, stressed the need for a clear framework to guide the proposed partnership.
Chude called for structured engagement between the NUJ and the Directorate, alongside capacity-building programmes to equip journalists with the necessary knowledge and skills to report effectively on critical national assets, infrastructure protection and related security issues.
The visit ended with a shared commitment to exploring areas of cooperation aimed at promoting ethical journalism, curbing misinformation and strengthening public understanding of the importance of protecting critical national infrastructure.
