By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), has accepted an invitation to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Matthew Abi, Public Relations Officer, DECAN.
Buratai disclosed this on Friday when he received a delegation of the DECAN Annual Lecture and Awards Committee, led by the association’s President, Comrade Odita Sunday, during a courtesy visit.
The former Army chief, who was also nominated for the Distinguished Leadership Award by DECAN, said the lecture theme, _“Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,”_ was timely.
“This topic is quite contemporary, beyond kinetic warfare. Harnessing technology and intelligence-led operations for Nigeria’s national security. It’s quite contemporary,” he said.
Buratai said professional associations remained necessary for protecting members’ welfare, job security and professional interests, while also checking arbitrary treatment of journalists by media executives.
He said defence journalism was particularly vital because the sector was central to national security, development, cohesion and unity, adding that effective communication could influence the outcome of military operations.
According to him, failure by the military to project its activities and provide timely information could create an information gap that adversaries would exploit.
“If you don’t project yourself, if you don’t get your information out as timely as possible, then be reassured that even your battle will be lost. Your strategy will be ineffective, which by implication, your operational execution will also be affected,” he warned.
Buratai recalled that during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army opened its doors to defence correspondents and allowed them to accompany troops to operational theatres.
He said the decision helped change the relationship between the military and the media, while giving journalists first-hand access to military operations.
“We broke the jinx that you don’t report on the military while in action in Nigeria.”
According to him, the policy was also adopted to counter the propaganda activities of Boko Haram insurgents, who he said used the media to spread their ideology, create fear among citizens and demoralise troops.
Recalling one of the operations journalists accompanied him on, Buratai said the military convoy came under an ambush while advancing towards Gamboru Ngala after troops had cleared Mafa and Dikwa. One soldier was killed while a general and another soldier were injured, but troops captured insurgents alive and continued their advance.
“Those issues were reported live, and we now broke the Boko Haram information and media propaganda, so they could no longer have the monopoly to tell the world, to spread rumours.
Buratai thanked DECAN for the nomination, describing it as one he cherished.
Earlier, DECAN President Odita Sunday said Buratai’s experience in military leadership would enrich discussions on emerging threats and the use of technology and intelligence in modern security operations.
