The Military High Command has once again called for a stronger partnership between the media and the military to educate the public on the activities of the armed forces in the national interest.
The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, made the appeal in Abuja over the weekend during a roundtable interactive session with members of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN).
He stated that the forum was one of many platforms established to foster engagement between the military and the media as partners in interacting with the public.
According to him, “The role you play in covering our programmes is crucial, and it is important that you understand us to be able to reflect our activities accurately to the general public.
“Also, through your work, we are able to get feedback on the impact of our programmes, activities, and operations.
“So, it is a symbiotic relationship, and I want to once again appreciate you for all that you have been doing in supporting the Nigerian Army. I look forward to more meaningful engagements and even better relationships going forward,” he said.
Maj.-Gen. Chibuisi explained that efforts to ensure a harmonious relationship between the military and the civil populace were ongoing.
He emphasised the need for people to understand that the Nigerian Army is their army, not their enemy, adding that the media has an important role to play in achieving this.
According to him, every Nigerian should realise and understand that every military personnel comes from a family and a community within the country.
This came as he urged citizens to stop wearing military uniforms illegally, stating that respecting the uniform is an important part of strengthening national security and building trust between the military and the public.
He explained that the misuse of military attire by unauthorised persons is not only against the law but also aids criminal activities and undermines national security.
“I’m a bit surprised that in most briefs we give during our programmes, we always talk about this issue of uniforms because it keeps recurring. It’s against the law of the land. If you are not in the armed forces or security agencies, using their uniform—whether you love it or not—is a crime and undermines our national security,” he said.
Maj.-Gen. Chibuisi stressed that the law must be respected to maintain the integrity and safety of the armed forces. He warned that offenders could face jail time, saying, “If you like the military, join the military. Don’t wear our uniform if you are not one of us.”
Highlighting the security risks, Chibuisi noted that criminals increasingly exploit military uniforms to commit crimes, making it harder for civilians and security agencies to identify genuine soldiers.
“Currently, there are a lot of criminals using military garb to perpetrate crimes,” he said. “If people keep dressing like that, how do you differentiate between a criminal and a genuine soldier?”
He urged families and communities to help with sensitisation at the home level to curb the menace, adding, “If somebody you know is not in the military comes out in the morning and wants to jog or drive to Shoprite wearing our uniform, you tell your boy, ‘Wait, you didn’t join the army, remove this thing, abeg.’ Make sure they don’t catch you.”
Maj.-Gen. Chibuisi explained that soldiers are trained to arrest civilians caught wearing military gear and hand them over to the police for prosecution.
“All these other things that come with it—harassment or rough handling of culprits—are not right, and we are doing sensitisation on them. Those that we find, and against whom we have evidence, we always sanction sternly,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of preventing the offence before it occurs: “One side is for our soldiers to do the right thing when they see it, but the other side is for civilians not to do it at all. Spare us from all that.”
Drawing a sharp distinction between Nigeria and other countries, Maj.-Gen. Chibuisi said, “This is not America. You can’t say because someone wears it in America, you can wear it here. Moreover, the challenges we are having here, I don’t think they have them in America.”
Speaking briefly on the activities of the Department of Civil-Military Affairs (DCMA), the Assistant Director of Administration, Lt.-Col. Muhammed Sani, stated that the army has recently enhanced civil-military relations with local communities through various outreach activities across the country.
He explained that the department was established in 2010 as an interface between the Nigerian Army and the civil populace.
Also speaking, the President of DECAN, Alhaji Ismail Musa, reaffirmed the media’s commitment to strengthening the vital bond between it and the military.
Musa said the partnership is essential to defeating terrorism, combating crime, and securing the peace and stability of the nation.
He pledged sustained collaboration with the armed forces and all relevant security institutions.
“Through accurate, investigative, and balanced reporting, we aim to enhance public understanding, promote national security, and showcase the sacrifices made daily by our gallant troops.
“We are acutely aware of the sensitivity and complexity of national security reporting.
“That is why we prioritise continuous engagement with the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces, and the Office of the National Security Adviser,” he said.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then