Rear Adm. Micheal Oamen, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, says credible intelligence and advanced information technology play crucial role in shaping the outcome of modern warfare.
Oamen made the remark on Wednesday when the Head of Lagos Operations, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Adeleye Ajayi, accompanied by some senior editorial staff of the agency, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lagos.
The FOC said that the importance of the operations underscored the need for the military to collaborate with the media.
“We are particularly happy to have a collaboration with a platform such as NAN because of your reach, which is strategic and an advantage to us.
“A major hindrance to operations today even before the planning and execution are misinformation and disinformation.
“Therefore, it is necessary for the media as the fourth estate of the realm to understand that they are part and parcel of the security architecture of the country,” he said.
Oamen added that the management of information as regards security was key because it had the tendency to undermine operations, thereby, undermining national security.
He said, “There is a need for us to collaborate more and work for the general good and security of the nation so that we will send the right messages out to the public.
“The populace need to know and be assured of all the efforts we are doing to ensure that the country is safe and secured for every law-abiding Nigerian to go about their lawful engagement”.
He said: “On behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff , Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, I thank NAN and assure the agency of our continued collaboration.”
Earlier, Ajayi said that his team was visiting the FOC to seek collaboration with the command to further strengthen its existing relationship with NAN.
“NAN is a professional purveyor of news, and we send news to most media houses – print and broadcast.
“Over the years, we have had a good relationship with the Navy in terms of publicity, and we intend to do more for the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies.
“NAN has 35 state offices and the headquarters in Abuja, with over 500 reporters, editors and control editors all over the country and internationally,” he said.
Ajayi said that NAN was ready to partner government organisations in the coverage of their activities as a strategy to tackle fake news dissemination especially on social media.
“We at NAN can’t afford to gamble with facts, credibility and reliability of information, because of our large network and clientèle.
“We are in partnership with foreign media such as AFP and Reuters.
“We also have NAN Media Centre which is open for workshops, seminars and training programmes.”
According to him, NAN attaches much importance to its information dissemination and ensures that its reports are accurate, comprehensive and balanced.
“As partners, we have also come to introduce to you our Head of Defence and Security Desk, Mr Kevin Okunzuwa, who will be interfacing with you or the public relations officer on the activities of the command,” he said.
