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Journalists and other media practitioners have been admonished to mindful when reporting issues and trends that bothers on national security not to jeopardize the safety of the country.
In a keynote address on Wednesday at a One-Day Workshop organised by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) at the Golden Gate, Ikoyi in conjunction with the Nigerian Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr Matthew Ibadin, Chief Executive Officer, Badinson Security Service explained that national security must come first in journalists reportage.
He observed that there are some information that are not meant to be thrown into the public domain rather such reports should be shared with the security agencies for analysis and appropriate action.
Explaining further, he said that with the present insecurity in the country, journalists have huge role to play by sieving information and ensuring that those information that wouldn’t work in favour are discreetly handled.
“This is the time for every journalists to celebrate Nigeria. We must practice the kind of journalism targeted at rebranding the country and not chase out investors that would bring about underdevelopment.”
On the new Terrorist Act amendment by the National Assembly, he tasked journalists to call on the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan not to criminalise anyone that gives ransom to kidnappers to free their relatives.
Matthew Ibadin, who is also the Chairman, Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC), Victoria Island, blamed the States Commissioners of Police, Department of State Security, and the Local Government where kidnap takes place for failing to rescue the victims.
He added that it was injuctice to criminalise families of kidnapped victims who deemed it necessary to pay ransom to free their loved ones.
Expressing his angst against the sloppy response of government to the protracted Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, he bemoans the elites for paying deaf ears and their nonchalance to resolving ASUU industrial disharmony but were swift at treating airline operators that wanted to embark on strike due to the astronomical increase in the price of Jet A1.
“As journalists, use your media might to ask National Assembly to pass a law prohibiting the use of generators, solar system and other alternatives to generate power outside the National Power Source (Electricity).
“Demand for the prohibition of political appointees from sending their children abroad or private universities but public schools. Demand the removal of state of origin from the Constitution and replace it with State of Residence and clamour for local government policing not state police.”
He added that crime is locally perpetrated and as such, security votes should be made available to the local government to fund its policing agenda.
Ibadin, without underscoring the challenges facing journalism practice noted that Journalists should be allowed to practice their profession free from the encumbrances and harrassment that has been the hallmark of the profession from security agencies and their state sponsors.
While making recommendations on how journalism as a profession can help shape or set agenda, reposition and rebrand the country, added that journalists owes the populace at helping _bringing diversities together; bridge the gap of miscommunication and misinformation as well as become the mouthpiece, watch dog of the citizenry and uphold our fragile democracy.”
The one-day workshop attracted media practitioners from the print, electronics and online platforms who came together for a robust discourse on how to enhence journalism practice in the country.
Highpoint of the workshop was the unveiling of NAOSNP LENS magazine, a publication of National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP)
In attendance were the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, Major Kolawole Bello; the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ASCI Seun Abulorin, spokesperson, Federal Road Satefy Corps (FRSC), Route Commander Olabisi Sonusi; and Founder, Journalist NG, Mr. Oba Adeoye, among other personalities.
