By Jibrin Baba Ndace
I have been asked to speak on the topic, “The Cooperation between the CSOs and the media on security challenges”. I will like to start by commending KAS for coming up with a topic that is not just apt, but timeless and timely. It is timeless, because security challenges have always been part of human existence. It is timely in the sense that the round table and the choice of topic shows the urgency that all stakeholders feel about the daunting, but surmountable security challenges that Nigeria face today. It is apt, because the CSOs and the media are critical stakeholders in the overall strategy in overcoming security challenges.
Let me start by saying that, as we are all aware, the world has become a more dangerous place to live, especially with the emergence of 4th generation warfare (4GW) or asymmetric warfare. Today, the enemy is everywhere and nowhere.
From Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria to Egypt, Libya, Mali, Central Africa Republic to Nigeria: the story is the same- upsurge of internal strife.
The new waves of democracy and the impact of technology revolution around Africa have brought new security challenges. There is no doubt that Nigeria is currently facing threats from various criminal groups that is clearly derailing its difficult but promising journey towards prosperity. Defence and security experts have admitted, and consistently warned that ‘not since Nigeria’s experiences with civil war in the 1960s have it been confronted by an existential threat so determined to shake the foundation of its unity.’
Today, in addition to state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, military is currently in joint operations with other security agencies in 28 out of 36 states of the federation.
In the inaugural lecture of National Defence College (NDC Course 22), with a theme: A Comprehensive Approach to National Security Management in Nigeria, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, raised concern about the raising levels of insecurity in Nigeria, especially since the return of democracy in 1999.
He said: “since the return of democracy in May 1999, Nigeria has been battling a raft of security challenges. While old security threats such as the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs), armed robbery, oil theft, maritime piracy, ethno-religious conflicts, assassinations, human trafficking and kidnapping, have persisted or even assumed worrisome dimensions, new and asymmetric threats such as violent extremism and domestic terrorism have dramatically changed our internal security landscape.”
“The frequency and extent of damage and destruction brought about by the outbreak and persistence of insecurity and violent criminality, have partly contributed to the classification of Nigeria as a fragile state, by assessment reports and by scholars including Smith and Vivekananda who ranked Nigeria among the seventeen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, that are on the list of the world’s most fragile states. Others on list include Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic, Cote D’Iviore, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sudan, Angola, Ethiopia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Cameroun, Guinea-Bissau and Malawi. In the same vein, Nigeria had a poor showing in the 2013 Failed State Index.”
He advised that as ‘the 2015 general elections draw nearer’, not only should ‘a comprehensive approach to national security management’ be put in place, but also the right ‘lessons’ should be ‘learnt from the crisis that engulfed some northern states after the presidential elections of 2011’. “ the waves of violent criminality in Nigeria is particularly worrisome given the fact the country is also already warming up to elections in 2015.
Our history of electoral politics or conduct of elections is not a palatable one from the point of view of security. The need therefore for a comprehensive approach o security management is more urgent now than ever. ”
He disclosed that scholars have suggested two main strategies for addressing security challenges confronting Nigeria which include greater attention to inter-agency collaboration and removal of structural causes of security problems, an approach he referred as hard and soft approach. “The first approach calls for greater attention to be paid on improving the state of inter-agency collaboration in dealing with threats, focusing on the relationship between and among the various stakeholders saddled with the task of providing physical security.
These traditionally include the intelligence community ,law enforcement agencies and emergency first responder , and the crucial utility of military force in internal security operations. The second approach emphasizes the need to remove the structural causes of the problem, such as social-political exclusion, economic marginalization(leading to mounting poverty and unemployment) widespread corruption and social destitution .
This approach of national security management, focusing on the complex linkage between good governance, development and security ”
He concluded that for Nigeria to achieve stability, the security cannot be left in the hands of security agencies alone. “These threat show that attainment and preservation of security should and must be every body’s business.” ( Emphasis mine). Here lies the place of CSOs and the media.
CSOs and Media as partners in progress
In every liberal democracy, the CSOs and the media play crucial role in the development of nation states. Both the CSOs and the media have a social responsibility to the society. Both play the same role in the society, but on different platform. Indeed, some scholars have categorized the media as integral part of civil society institutions. In his paper, titled, ‘Media, Civil Society: Seeking a common ground for credible election’, at a national stakeholders’ roundtable on setting media and public agenda for 2015, Nick Dazang, Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, underlined the relationship between CSOs and the Media.
He argued that, “Liberal democratic societies recognize the media’s place as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, keeping the rear after the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary. The constitution additionally mandates the Media to hold the government accountable to the people. Similarly, society recognizes the place of civil society organisations in holding government accountable to the people.”
In Nigeria, CSOs and the media played leading role in the return of democracy. In the process some participants paid the supreme sacrifice. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the media and CSOs have continued to play significant role in ensuring respect for rule of law, equity, justice, fairness, transparent elections, transparency and accountability in the management of resource.
“In doing this’, Dazang posited, ‘the Media have found recourse in their reporting and investigative skills and most recently the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Civil Society Organisations have also resorted to the FOI Act and are asking pertinent questions about government policies, budgets and expenditures.’
There is a symbiotic relationship between the CSOs and the Media. While the Media has served as platform for CSOs on the one hand, the CSOs have also served as a source of credible information for the Media on the other hand. Through, the Media, CSOs are able to make meaningful impact.
There is need for continuation of such robust relationship especially with the increasing security challenges in Nigeria.
De-escalating tension through caption of news items
This is a very vital point, in our quest for a secured Nigeria. Like a gun, the Media is a double-edge sword. It can be used for public good. It could also be used deployed for destructive purposes. It can be used to defend a nation. It could also be used to destroy a nation. And indeed, the Media have been used to set destructive agenda in Nigeria and other part of the world.
As Media practitioners, we must exercise restraint, when we report an incident. We must weigh the implication of what we report. We must be mindful of fault lines and sensibilities of religion, tribe, ethnicity, regionalism among others. For example, when we conduct an interview, we should know what the agenda of the person we are interviewing is? Like an Africa problem says, “it is not all the cloths that we launder that we dry under the sun for the whole world to see”.
This restrain also applies to the CSOs.
Let me however, hasten to add, that it is always easy to blame the Media when some events are reported in a particular way. We must acknowledge that, the Media, in most instances, are not responsible for incidents that they report. Therefore, all stakeholders must exercise restraint in their comments especially on security issues.
We must also recognize that the media have continued to pay the supreme prize for being on the side of the people. The National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki rtd, at the roll out of soft approach to countering terrorism said:
“Though, we may not agree at all the times, but a careful analysis of the press since the insurgency, would reveal that the press has sided with the Nigerian people at great risks to the safety and security of their businesses. We recall the attack on journalists and newspaper houses in Abuja and Kaduna.”
The public must also see media as a competitive business that is further challenged by the advent of social media. Sensationalism sales newspapers.
Non-state actors
Let me however, add, that the biggest challenge that Nigeria faced today is not from the conventional media or old Media, but from the unconventional or new Media, which I like to call, non- state actors. The new media are like the insurgents, they are everywhere and nowhere. This new communication which is hinged on the internet and satellite communication allows instant sending of data and instant response from a receiver.
This include Facebook, Badio, Whatapps, Youtube, Badio, Wikileak, Saharareporter etc. some communication experts have argued that because of the way it operates, “it is known to be effectively used for rumour mongering, political propaganda among others. In some instance, what is posted on the cyberspace is uninformed opinion of an individual whose interest is unknown to many who will access the information.
Building a better relationship between the CSOs and the Media for a secured Nigeria
Let me put on record that a secured Nigeria is in the interest of all. It is in the interest of Nigerians, because they have no any other country to call theirs. It is in the interest of West Africa and Africa, being the biggest Africa nation. It is also in the interest of the global community.
Hence, in our writing as media practitioners, and in our advocacy as CSOs, the first agenda should be a secured Nigeria. The second agenda should be a secured Nigeria. The third agenda should be a secured Nigeria.
In achieving this, there should be more grounds for constructive engagement between the Media and CSOs. The CSOs should carry the media along beyond invitation to cover their events. They should see the Media as a strategic partner.
Above, both the Media and CSOs should develop their capacities on trends, learnt lesson so as to be grounded on current security challenges. The criticism of security agencies should be with knowledge and high sense of responsibility. The Media should continue to provide platform for CSOs to engage on debates on development and security issues.
In conclusion, I will say that having a secured Nigeria is the responsibility of all stakeholders. And like Samuel Abrahams said in Military Review, February 2014, we will have secured Nigeria, ‘when the government secures its citizens continuously, sustains and builds legitimacy through effective governance, has effectively isolated the insurgency, and can manage and meet the expectations of the nation’s entire population.’
A paper presented by JIBRIN BABA NDACE, AGM Special Projects and Defence Correspondent, Blueprint Newspaper Limited at a Roundtable organised by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Abuja on Tuesday, 15 April 2014.
