By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Yahaya Umar Farouq has said that media as an important component in the nation’s progress and development process, plays very significant role in the society and having been involved in the Nigerian Army’s (NA) non-kinetic lines of operation towards ensuring a peaceful and secured Nigeria, as a nation.
Farouq explained that, “this is because the media plays an essential role in objective reportage and perception management and It is in recognition of this fact and the quest to achieve effective dissemination of Nigerian Army’s operational achievements and civil military cooperation activities that the Army Headquarters, Department of Civil Military Affairs organizes quarterly media chats to acquaint the general public on the civil military cooperation activities
conducted by the Nigerian Army.”
COAS who was represented by the Commander, NA Infantry Corps, Jaji, Kaduna and also immediate past Theater Commander, Operation Hadin Kai JTF, Headquarters Theater Command, Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Major General Chris G. Musa
added that, “it is a well known, modern military operations take place in complex environments characterized by challenges that work against the public well-being of the affected societies.
” This media chat is timely, as it is coming up about two weeks before the 2023 general elections, where the Nigerian Army will be tasked to provide security in support of civil authority. While in providing such support, the military’ involvement is often questioned by sections of the society and the media chat provides an avenue to clarify the extent of our involvement and also helps to shape public perspective on the roles of the army in this situation.
”I would therefore, stress the importance of having the media involved in the Nigerian Army’s non-kinetic lines of operation towards ensuring a peaceful and secured Nigeria, as the media is an important component in a nation’s progress and development.
”I am proud of the achievements and efforts of the department in
projecting the Nigerian Army’s non kinetic drive, in line with my Vision of “A Professional Nigerian Army
Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria” with the pillars of the vision hinged on Professionalism, Readiness, Administration and Cooperation.
”’The Nigerian Army’s remaining professional even during these non-kinetic tasks remains sacrosanct. Today’s event is apt and a way of illustrating the
importance of the critical roles of the media in the Nigerian Army Non-kinetic lines of operation.
”The media chat would provide an avenue for the department to
engage various media practitioners with a view to charting new ways for a more mutually benefiting
relationship between the Nigerian Army and the media, as well as improving media reportage for enhancement of the Nigerian Army Operations along the Non-Kinetic
lines.
” The choice of Maiduguri being the epicenter of the Nigerian Army’s Counter Terrorism and Counter insurgency as the venue for this year’s First Quarter Media Chat is instructive. It is also aimed at showcasing CIMIC activities undertaken by the Nigerian Army in
order to continue to win the hearts and minds of the civil populace.
”Therefore, the timing and choice of venue is right as it will also keep the general populace abreast with the activities of the AHQ DCMA.
It gives me immense pleasure to be here on the occasion of Army Headquarters Department of Civil
Military Affairs, Civil Military Cooperation Quarterly Media Chat for First Quarter 2023 holding here in Maiduguri.
”I commend the Department of Civil Military Affairs, for this noble initiative. The media chat is organized in pursuant of the Nigerian Army’s drive in keeping the
media informed of its Civil Military Cooperation activities, to dispel rumors while also providing accurate and timely information to the media in tandem with
international best practices.
” Prominent among these
challenges are population displacement, degraded
infrastructure, economic collapse, human sufferings and
sometimes death, root causes or underlining reasons behind the conflict.
” Understanding and perceptions of the warring parties by way of getting facts that must be balanced and careful to disseminate by being neutral, factual, accurate and objective apart from, being professional ethically as reputable media practitioners .
”Consequently, the military is
confronted with non-combat tasks and immoral or demoralizing media reports sometimes as the media play it’s role such as social
responsibility which bears directly shapes or influences impacts on the public opinions and perceptions.
”The military, in conjunction with humanitarian organisations such as United Nations Agencies,
International Non-Governmental Organizations, International Organizations, Civil Society Organisations (CSOS) and civil authorities play specialized roles in
alleviating the suffering of the general populace and lessening the effects of military operations,” Lt. Gen. Farouq said.
The COAS further stated that, “the engagement of other stakeholders through collaborative interactions would further enhance service
delivery. And the Nigerian Army has recognized the importance of cooperation amongst stakeholders as an essential component of mission success.
”Therefore, stakeholders are persistently confronted with the
complexities of managing divergent interests especially
in the face of media influence and other non-state actors. While the need for Civil Military Relations is further strengthened by the continuous involvement of the
Nigerian Army in Peace Support Operations and Internal Security Operations such as counter insurgency, anti-banditry, anti-kidnapping vis-a-vis other
humanitarian services,” Yahaya added.
The COAS acknowledged the good works of the Department of
Civil Military Affairs in ensuring the media are carried along in the activities of the Nigerian Army towards securing the nation who;e thanking the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for his continuous support to the Nigerian Army and for providing the conducive environment necessary for us
to carry out our constitutional mandate.
He also thanked the Honourable Minister of Defence Maj Gen. Salihi Magashi (rtd) and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. LEO Irabor for always providing strategic guidance and support to the Nigerian Army as well as officers and soldiers for their loyalty and enthusiasm in the discharge of their duties in service of our fatherland.
”We remember the unquantifiable sacrifices of our colleagues who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty of bringing peace to our dear country,” Farouq paid tribute to the fallen heroes that paid their supreme while in active service.
