From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has called on information officers in the armed forces, security and response agencies to be proactive and strategic in the management of national security communication.
The NSA has also charged them to work in synergy to deny terrorists, bandits, IPOB and other criminal groups access to the media and cyberspace. Ribadu said this at a meeting he held with the spokespersons, under the umbrella of Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee in Abuja.
He said: ”As spokespersons, you have a critical role to play in effective governance communication to project our results and reach audiences at home and abroad. Countering fake news will require that we are ahead of the news and proactively update the public.”
The NSA, while calling on the spokesperson to adopt a plan of action to engage Nigerians, build trust and counter violent extremism, urged them to change their approach in engaging with the public and countering disinformation from persons who are bent on destroying the country. He promised to ensure that, henceforth, government communication aligns with the vision of and directives of the present administration and that the messages are well-coordinated and in line with national security strategic objectives and values.
Ribadu said the time has come for defence and security information officers to adopt a plan of action to engage Nigerians, build trust and counter violent extremism, taking into account the sacrifices of personnel of the armed forces some of whom have had to pay the supreme price. The NSA called on the spokesmen to address the incessant use of the social media platforms by enemies of the country to create fake news, misinformation and disinformation, thereby creating bad blood between the citizens and the governments.
While noting that the National Security Strategy 2019, currently under review, identified strategic communication as an element of national power, the NSA urged them to project the country’s national power and values including information operations, psychological operations, public diplomacy and public relations.
He said: “Across the world, we have also assessed the adept use of social media platforms by those who seek power to shape public opinion against citizens.
This threat is both global and local and presents an immediate national security priority. The urgency to prepare and be proactive in our national security strategic communication management is now, and the spokespersons have a critical role to play.
”Upon the sweat and blood of service personnel and the men and women who protect us daily, we must build a narrative of resilience and mobilise our people. We must tell their stories and sing their praise as part of a broader national strategic communication programme.”