By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has identified malnutrition, drug abuse and the unchecked influx of foreigners into Nigeria’s media space as emerging factors threatening national security.
The NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, raised the concerns on at the two day National Security Summit organised by the union in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” brought together media practitioners, security experts, retired military spokespersons and stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between journalists and security agencies in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Abdullahi said the media has a critical role to play in promoting national security and development, urging journalists to prioritise issues that contribute to peace, stability and national cohesion.
He expressed concern over the growing presence of foreigners in Nigeria’s media space, describing the development as an issue requiring policy attention and closer scrutiny due to its possible implications for national security.
The NUJ president also linked the country’s insecurity challenges to worsening malnutrition, stressing that the issue goes beyond health concerns and has long-term consequences for society.
According to him, children affected by malnutrition often suffer stunted growth and reduced cognitive development, which could negatively affect productivity and stability in the future.
“Many people may wonder why we are talking about malnutrition at a security summit, but malnutrition is a serious problem and Nigeria is among the countries most affected globally. Children who suffer from malnutrition often experience stunted growth and reduced intellectual development, which has implications for the future of society,” he said.
Abdullahi further described drug abuse among young Nigerians as a major threat to national security, noting that the increasing prevalence of substance abuse has serious links to crime and insecurity.
He called for urgent action to tackle the menace, saying the alarming statistics presented during the summit should concern all Nigerians.
“The figures are alarming and worrisome. We heard presentations showing the growing scale of drug abuse in the country. This should be a matter of serious concern for all of us because of its implications for crime and insecurity,” he added.
He stressed that stronger collaboration between the media and security agencies was necessary to address security challenges, urging both institutions to work together in shaping responsible narratives.
Speaking at the summit, President of the International Press Institute (IPI), Musikilu Mojeed, advocated dialogue and institutional mechanisms as the best ways to resolve disagreements between the media and government agencies.
Mojeed said disputes between security agencies and media organisations should be addressed through engagement rather than confrontation, citing previous instances where misunderstandings were resolved through dialogue.
He noted that disagreements between the media and security institutions were inevitable due to their different roles, but stressed that regular communication would help reduce tensions and prevent unnecessary conflicts.
“The challenge is not to eliminate disagreements but to develop mechanisms that reduce misunderstanding. One way of achieving this is through regular dialogue, not only during periods of crisis when positions have already hardened,” he said.
He recommended the creation of structured engagement platforms between media organisations and security agencies, while urging government institutions to use established complaint channels and legal processes when responding to media reports.
Former Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade (rtd.), also emphasised the importance of dialogue, recalling the incident involving security checks on newspaper distribution vehicles during a period of heightened security concerns.
Olukolade explained that the action was based on intelligence reports suggesting that terrorists could exploit newspaper delivery routes to move weapons and other dangerous materials.
He said the operation was not targeted at restricting the media but was aimed at conducting security checks, adding that the matter was resolved quickly through consultations between security authorities and media stakeholders.
Former Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu (rtd.), described the media as a strategic partner in national security efforts, urging security institutions to strengthen communication with journalists.
He said the media should not be seen as an adversary but as an important ally in helping the public understand security operations and national objectives.
“The media are not enemies of government or security agencies. They are partners. What is important is for security institutions to communicate with them and explain issues that have national security implications,” he said.
Former NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, advised journalists to exercise caution when reporting security matters, warning that irresponsible reporting could be exploited by criminal and terrorist groups.
He urged media practitioners to balance the public’s right to information with the need to protect national security, stressing the importance of professionalism and responsibility in security reporting.
