Stakeholders Advocate Non-Kinetic Approach for Tackling Insecurity in Nigeria
Participants at a workshop on Digital Journalism and National Security: The Role of Social Media Influencers in the fight against crime have advocated good governance and respect for rule of law as key to improving the security situation across the country.
The workshop held in Kano was organized by PRNigeria Centre with Security Agencies, Media Professionals, Youth Groups, Social Media Influencer and Academics in attendance.
The workshop acquainted participants on the role of media in addressing security challenges and to officially unveil Arewa Agenda, a Media Advocacy Platform for Peaceful Coexistence and National Development.
In a paper presentation by Mallam Yushau Shuaib, CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, the Publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential titled “Strategic Communication for Crisis Management,” emphasized the importance of channels of communication been adopted in the dissemination of information to check insecurity.
Also presenting a paper, titled “New Media and the Agenda Setting Theory; A Case for Security Consciousness by Mohammed Dahiru Lawal – Managing Editor, Arewa Agenda said the New Media or online journalism open new ways of storytelling primarily through text, audio, video and photography.
In a communique released after the workshop, the participants observed that the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria and especially in the North is alarming, worrisome and calls for strategic and proactive measures by all stakeholders.
“The deployment of fire brigade approach in crisis management is becoming a norm and also the anonymous nature of social media presence makes it easy for some users to peddle hate speech and fake news, the communique,” said participants observed.
The communique added that parts of the recommendation include “Non-Kinetic approach on tackling insecurity especially through awareness campaign, political inclusion and social empowerment
“The need to establish, sustain and improve inter-agency collaboration for intelligence gathering and coordinated operation in the fight against crimes
“Improve Media relations/synergy with members of the 4th Estate of the realm in ensuring adequate, timely and responsive information delivery’’
“Need for a proactive approach in crisis management through adequate planning, simulation exercises among others.’’
“Need to carry Nigerian youths along in ensuring that they go beyond primordial sentiment in social media engagement, particularly to ensure that their narratives are targeted towards Nation Building and Peaceful coexistence.”
The Manager PRNigeria Centre, Mr Adnan Mukhtar said the workshop was organised to sustain synergy and collaboration between Security agencies, the media and influencers towards ensuring national security.
See Communique Below:
COMMUNIQUE
Being a Communique adopted at a workshop a One-Day Workshop on Digital Journalism and National Security: The Role of Influencers in the fight against crime, held at PRNigeria Centre Kano on October 10, 2020
INTRODUCTION
The PRNigeria Centre Kano, a subsidiary of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, the Publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential organized the Meeting to acquaint participants on the role of media in the and to officially unveil Arewa Agenda, a Media Advocacy Platform for Peaceful Coexistence and National Development and Tech Digest is a new media platform under the banner of IMPR which focus on technological innovation and trending development on cyberspace.
PREAMBLE
According to the latest population projections by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Nigeria will by 2050 be the world’s third most populous nation after India and China with a projected population of over 400 million. By implication, the north being the region with the highest numbers of persons in a family unit will contribute maybe at least 60% of this number. This development will put a lot of stress on employment opportunities, food, water, land, infrastructure, social amenities – including healthcare and education the lack of which results to societal hopelessness, a key driver of insecurity. If perceptions are well managed and right awareness messages created on time, the threat posed on national security posed by this imminent population increase will be nipped in the bud.
PARTICIPANTS
Over thirty members from across the Security Services, Response Agencies, Media, Civil Society, Academics and Youth Organisation attended the workshop.
Papers were presented and discussions followed in order to broaden knowledge and understanding of what is at stake and explore various ways of partnership with the media to achieve desired goals.
PRESENTATIONS
The main papers were:
a) New Media and the Agenda Setting Theory; A Case for Security Consciousness by Mohammed Dahiru Lawal – Managing Editor, Arewa Agenda
b) Strategic Communication for Crisis Management by Mallam Yushau Shuaib – Founder, IMPR.
ATTENDANCE
The workshop was attended by participants from Security Agencies, Media Organisations, Youth Groups, Social Media Influencer and Academics.
DISCUSSION
During the discussions, some observations were made concerning the state of security in Nigeria and level of synergy between the public, the media and security agencies.
OBSERVATIONS
1) The prevailing insecurity in Nigeria and especially in the North is alarming, worrisome and calls for strategic and proactive measures.
2) That a kinetic approach is mostly being deployed to tackle insecurity
3) That there is lack of mutual relationship between spokespersons and the media including the influencers
4) Some spokespersons are yet to recognize the value of Social Media engagement in responding to security situations.
5) The deployment of fire brigade approach in crisis management is becoming a norm
6) The anonymous nature of social media presence makes it easy for some users to paddle hate speech and fake news
RECOMMENDATION
1) Good governance and rule of law is key
2) Non-Kinetic approach on tackling insecurity especially through awareness campaign, political inclusion and social empowerment
3) Need to establish, sustain and improve inter agency collaboration for intelligence gathering and coordinated operation in the fight against crimes
4) Improve Media relations/synergy with members of the 4th Estate of the realm in ensuring adequate, timely and responsive information delivery
5) Need for proactive approach in crisis management through adequate planning, simulation exercises among others
6) Need to carry Nigerian youths along in ensuring that they go beyond primordial sentiment in social media engagement, particularly to ensure that their narratives are targeted towards Nation Building and Peaceful coexistence
7) Strategic communication as kinetic approach in tackling insecurity
CONCLUSION
In Conclusion, attendees commended the leadership of PRNigeria for organizing the meeting and charged stakeholders to speed up arrangement towards the success of the adopted recommendations.
Signatories:
Ibrahim Garba Shu’aibu, Chairman Kano Correspondent’s Chapel
Adnan Mukhtar Adamu, Manager PRNigeria Centre Kano
