By Stanley Onyekwere
In a strategic effort to strengthen national stability and improve crisis communication, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is set to host a two-day National Security Summit in Abuja.
The high-level event, scheduled for June 18 and 19, 2026, will center on the theme: “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building.”
According to a joint statement released by the Organizing Committee’s Chairman, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, and Secretary, Comrade Abu Nmodu, the summit is designed as a collaborative platform to address the complex security challenges, widespread misinformation, and public anxiety currently facing the country.
The summit will gather top-tier government officials, heads of security agencies, media executives, editors, and civil society organizations.
Also , the event’s leadership line-up includes: Chairman of the Occasion: Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information, Special Guests of Honour: General Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.
Furthermore, the event to be hosted by Comrade Alhassan Yahya, National President of the NUJ, has Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), as the Keynote Speaker.
Organizers emphasize that structured dialogue between the press and security forces is essential for countering fake news, preventing public panic, and ensuring citizens receive accurate, timely information.
“The Security Summit is conceived as a high-level platform for robust dialogue on how journalists and security operatives can work together more effectively in safeguarding the country, managing information during crises, and strengthening public confidence in national institutions,” stated Comrade Oyetunde.
Over the course of the two-day event, stakeholders will dive into critical and sensitive issues, including:
Responsible reporting of security and conflict operations.
The agenda features a dynamic mix of panel discussions, breakout sessions, and firsthand experience-sharing from frontline reporters, alongside interactive Q&A sessions with security chiefs.
The summit will culminate in the adoption of an official communiqué and a structured framework of action. This framework will serve as a definitive guide for future interactions between Nigerian media institutions and security agencies.
The NUJ reiterated that while it remains fully committed to defending press freedom and holding power accountable, the media must also work constructively with security agencies to safeguard human lives, protect democratic governance, and preserve national cohesion.
