By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Army has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing collaboration with the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), underscoring the critical role of credible, timely and accurate information in national security.
The Army emphasized that effective strategic communication is essential for countering misinformation, building public trust and fostering the collective resolve required to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
This position was conveyed on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, when the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele, received the President of DECAN, Mr. Odita Sunday, alongside members of the Association’s Executive Committee at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
During the engagement, Colonel Anele highlighted that while troops continue to make significant sacrifices in defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the prevalence of false and misleading narratives often undermines their efforts. She stressed that success in addressing insecurity is not limited to battlefield achievements but also depends on effectively dominating the information space through accurate, responsible and patriotic reporting.
The Acting Director commended DECAN for its professionalism and sustained support in projecting balanced and credible reports of military operations. She assured the Association of the Directorate’s commitment to strengthening media engagement through regular capacity-building initiatives, closer collaboration and expanded participation in the Directorate of Army Public Relations Media Workshop to enhance the quality of national security reporting.
In his remarks, the President of DECAN, Mr. Odita Sunday, noted that the visit was aimed at consolidating the longstanding partnership between DECAN and the Nigerian Army in promoting factual reporting, countering misinformation and improving public understanding of the Armed Forces’ constitutional roles.
Both the Nigerian Army and DECAN reaffirmed their shared commitment to sustaining a robust military-media partnership in support of national security objectives. It was stressed that addressing security challenges requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, where security agencies, the media and citizens work collaboratively to strengthen national unity, resilience and public confidence.
