The Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) has honoured the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.); and service chiefs for their contributions to counter-terrorism operations and national security.
The awardees were honoured at the association’s 3rd Annual Conference and Award Ceremony, held on Monday, October 12, at the Command Officer Mess, Asokoro, Abuja.
The conference, themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,” brought together military leaders, defence officials and journalists to examine strategies for addressing the country’s evolving security challenges.
The discussions centred on the growing importance of intelligence gathering, technological innovation and inter-agency cooperation in strengthening military operations against increasingly sophisticated threats.
Ribadu received the award in recognition of his “outstanding leadership, strategic coordination and dedicated service in strengthening and managing Nigeria’s national security architecture” as National Security Adviser.
Oluyede was honoured for his “excellent military leadership, exceptional coordination and synergy among the tri-services, and significant role in degrading the operational capacity of terrorist groups across the federation.”
The award also recognised his contributions to sustained military operations that have led to the surrender of terrorist commanders and fighters in efforts to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national security.
DECAN also recognised the contributions of former military leaders, particularly Gen. Buratai, whose tenure as Chief of Army Staff was marked by sustained counter-terrorism operations against insurgent groups.
Buratai, a former Nigerian ambassador to the Republic of Benin, received the Outstanding Leadership Award for his “exceptional military leadership, distinguished service to Nigeria, and significant role in strengthening national security and degrading the operational capacity of terrorist groups.”
The association said the recognition reflected his contributions to national security through military leadership and strategic counter-terrorism efforts.
The current Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, was also honoured with the Distinguished Leadership Award for his leadership and reforms aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Army.
The award specifically recognised his efforts to expand the Army’s order of battle and recruit an additional 20,000 personnel, alongside sustained operational campaigns against terrorism and other security threats.
Similarly, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, received an award for his contributions to maritime security, particularly efforts to combat piracy, improve security in the Gulf of Guinea and sustain operations against crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage.
The association said these efforts had contributed to strengthening maritime security and protecting Nigeria’s economic interests.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, was honoured for the Nigerian Air Force’s contributions to counter-terrorism and other security operations across the country.
Aneke’s award recognised his “distinguished leadership in advancing civilian-harm mitigation, precision air operations and aerial surveillance, including sustained strikes against terrorist enclaves in the North and illegal oil-refining sites in the South-South”.
The recognition highlighted the growing importance of air power in modern security operations, particularly through aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering and coordinated air strikes against terrorist targets.
These capabilities provide critical support to ground troops, improve situational awareness and enhance the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in confronting terrorism and other security threats.
Beyond the award presentations, participants at the conference called for increased investment in advanced surveillance systems, artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence and real-time information sharing to improve threat detection and operational decision-making.
They also stressed that technological advancement must be accompanied by adequate personnel training, reliable equipment and effective coordination among security agencies to ensure that new capabilities translate into operational gains.
The conference further examined the role of defence correspondents in promoting public understanding of military operations while upholding professional standards and responsible reporting.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd.), who was honoured as Grand Patron of DECAN, urged journalists to balance their responsibility to hold public institutions accountable with the need to protect operational security.
He cautioned against publishing unverified reports and sensitive information that could compromise military missions or endanger personnel.
The minister’s remarks underscored the delicate balance between press freedom, public accountability and the protection of information that could expose security personnel or undermine ongoing operations.
The conference reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between the military and the media in advancing national security objectives, particularly as the Armed Forces intensify efforts to modernise their capabilities and strengthen intelligence-led operations against terrorism and other threats.
