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Take Terrorists Off Front Pages, FG Tells Nigerian Media Outlets

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris

Take Terrorists Off Front Pages, FG Tells Nigerian Media Outlets

Minister Mohammed Idris calls for responsible journalism at NUJ-DSS National Security Summit in Abuja

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerian media organisations to stop giving prominent coverage to terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups, warning that such publicity inadvertently amplifies their activities and undermines national security efforts.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal on Thursday during a two-day National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja. The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” brought together media practitioners, security officials and communication experts to discuss the role of journalism in strengthening national security.

Idris said while the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to press freedom, journalists must exercise responsibility in reporting security-related issues. “Yes, we have to do our work; we have to report whatever happens, but you must know that the best reporter, the best editor, is the one who knows what not to report in the interest of nation-building,” he stated. The minister urged editors to reduce the prominence given to reports of attacks and criminal activities, arguing that terrorists often seek publicity through media coverage. “Please, take these terrorists and criminals off your front pages. This is what they crave, free of charge. It saddens me when I see our front pages reporting the activities of these criminals while underplaying the achievements of our security agencies,” he added.

According to Idris, a secure and peaceful nation is essential for the survival and growth of the media industry. He called on journalists to highlight the sacrifices and successes of security personnel who continue to risk their lives to protect the country. “We must have a Nigeria to report first before we can even have a union or any other media organisation. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this nation survives,” he said.

The minister noted that Nigeria continues to face complex security threats, including terrorism, banditry, cybercrime, organised crime, misinformation and separatist agitations, all of which require coordinated responses. He stated that sustained operations have weakened terrorist networks in the North-East, while intensified efforts against banditry and kidnapping in the North-West and North-Central have produced positive results. According to him, the government has invested in modern equipment, surveillance systems, intelligence infrastructure and capacity building to enhance the effectiveness of security operations. Beyond military measures, the administration is addressing underlying causes of insecurity through economic reforms, youth empowerment initiatives, infrastructure development, education and social intervention programmes.

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On education, Idris said more than 1.3 million Nigerian students have benefited from the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) , which was introduced to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent young Nigerians from accessing higher education. Reports indicate that over ₦161.97 billion has been disbursed in 2026, including ₦89.94 billion paid directly to public tertiary institutions and ₦72.03 billion transferred into students’ bank accounts as monthly upkeep stipends. He further disclosed that the government is working on improved welfare packages for media professionals to enhance their productivity and well-being.

The minister commended the media industry’s support for the country’s digital broadcasting transition, describing the recent launch of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) as a major milestone achieved through collaboration between government and stakeholders. The platform was officially launched on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the NIGCOMSAT headquarters in Abuja, marking a significant step in the modernisation of Nigeria’s broadcasting industry after over a decade of lapsed deadlines. The initiative is projected to serve about 40 million households and generate more than N600 billion in economic value. Idris described the DSO as part of a broader national effort to build a more connected and competitive Nigeria, noting that the government is pursuing a hybrid broadcasting model combining Digital Terrestrial Television, Direct-to-Home satellite delivery, and digital application-based platforms.

In his remarks, NUJ National President Alhassan Yahya said the summit was designed to strengthen cooperation between journalists and security agencies in the interest of democracy and national development. Yahya praised the leadership of the DSS, stating that relations between the agency and the media have improved significantly in recent years. “It may interest you to know that in the last one and a half years, there has been no record of intimidation or harassment by state services in this country,” he said.

Also speaking, President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) , Dr Ike Neliaku, described the media and security institutions as critical pillars of Nigeria’s democracy. Neliaku announced that Nigeria had secured the hosting rights for the World Public Relations Forum scheduled for November 2026, marking the first time the event will be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa. The forum is expected to bring communication professionals from 126 countries to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI) , Musikilu Mojeed, stressed that national security and press freedom should not be viewed as competing interests. According to him, democratic societies require both values to thrive, warning that security without accountability could encourage abuse, while freedom without security cannot be sustained. “National security and press freedom are not opposing goals; they are mutually reinforcing pillars of democratic governance,” Mojeed said. He noted that tensions between journalists and security agencies are inevitable because both institutions pursue different objectives, but argued that the task of democratic institutions is not to eliminate such tension but to manage it responsibly through dialogue, professional accountability structures and judicial processes.

The summit was attended by representatives of major security agencies, senior media executives, former NUJ presidents and public relations practitioners from across the country.

Take Terrorists Off Front Pages, FG Tells Nigerian Media Outlets