Don’t break Nigeria to break the news — Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged
Nigerian media practitioners not to destroy the nation in their
quest to be the first to break the news.

The minister said this while speaking as a special guest of
honour at the Nigerian Army Media Conference organised in
collaboration with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Institute
of Public Relations, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers and Guild
of Professional Bloggers of Nigeria.

The two days event started in Abuja on Thursday.

The minister equally appealed to the media not to extend their
lack of support for a particular government to the nation’s
military because such would compromise national unity.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Grace
Isu Gekpe, Mohammed urged the media always take into account
national security while competing to be the first for break the
news.

The minister said, “Governments come and go but the security
services remain to continue to take the risks so that you and I can
live to pursue livelihood. If you don’t like the government of the
day for whatever reason, you should not extend that hatred to the
army or the security services in general.”

Mohammed said the media had the responsibility to safeguard the
military and other security agents, who stake their lives to
protect the lives and property of citizens.

He said “They (security agents) can’t even think of Christmas.
Their thought is on whether they will see another day or even the
next hour alive, we need to support them.’’

Mohammed expressed his reservation on the way the media has been
reporting the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the
North-East.

He noted that it was sad that when the Nigerian Army recaptured
Baga and other areas from Boko Haram terrorists “one or two” gave
it prominence on their front pages.

Chief host of the event, who is also the Chief of Army Staff,
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the military, especially the Nigerian
Army, was conscious of its responsibilities.

He said what the military wanted from the media was fairness and
responsibility in reporting.

Buratai said, “Not all information regarding military operations
will be made available to you. This is because we are also
gatekeepers in keeping secret vital military operations for
national security.

“However, when such operations are conducted, relevant details
will be made available to the media for public consumption.

“In this regard, I want to request the media to bear with us and
exercise patience while we remain committed to carrying you along
in the discharge of our various military operations.”