By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Permanent Secretary, General Services Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim Kana, has urged defence correspondents to give balanced coverage to security issues by reporting not only the challenges facing the Armed Forces but also the successes and sacrifices of troops in the fight against insecurity.
The Public Relations Officer of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), Matthew Abi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday following a courtesy visit by the association’s leadership to Kana ahead of its annual conference scheduled for next Monday at the Army Officers’ Mess 1, Asokoro, Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Kana, a former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, said journalists embedded with troops in operational theatres had witnessed first-hand the difficult conditions under which military personnel operate and should reflect such realities in their reports.
He observed that media reports often focused on casualties suffered by troops while overlooking the significant achievements recorded against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
“Unlike in the past where journalists report 50 soldiers killed, one soldier beheaded, but you did not report that 1,000 bandits were killed. That should be the news,” Kana said.
According to him, insecurity in the country should not be blamed solely on the Armed Forces, stressing that military personnel have continued to make enormous sacrifices in defence of the nation despite the complex security environment.
Kana commended defence correspondents for what he described as improved reporting of military operations, noting that journalists who had accompanied troops to the battlefield were better positioned to appreciate the commitment and sacrifices of military personnel.
He also praised the Armed Forces for granting journalists access to operational areas, saying the collaboration had enhanced public understanding of military activities.
Reflecting on his three-year tenure at the Ministry of Defence, Kana said his open-door policy enabled him to maintain cordial relationships with military personnel, civilian staff and journalists, while also ensuring effective information sharing on government-funded operations.
The former defence permanent secretary highlighted several reforms initiated during his tenure, including the installation of reverse osmosis water systems, renovation of ministry facilities, construction and equipping of a new hospital, expansion of the dental unit, and improvements to workers’ welfare.
Kana further revealed that he championed the proposal to harmonise the medical services of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force into a single Armed Forces Medical Corps to improve access to specialised healthcare services for personnel across the services.
He explained that the initiative also included plans for a medical college under the Nigerian Defence Academy and the development of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, into a teaching hospital.
The former permanent secretary also disclosed that efforts were underway to expand local defence manufacturing through increased private-sector participation following proposed amendments to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act.
Earlier, DECAN President, Odita Sunday, expressed condolences over the loss of military personnel and civilians in a recent air crash and prayed for the repose of their souls.
Sunday described Kana as a distinguished public servant who made significant contributions to defence journalism during his time at the Ministry of Defence, including facilitating DECAN’s registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
He disclosed that more than 100 members of the association voted to confer the title of Patron of DECAN on Kana in recognition of his support for defence correspondents.
According to Sunday, the honour will be formally bestowed on Kana during the association’s annual conference, which is expected to attract the Minister of Defence, the National Security Adviser, service chiefs and other key stakeholders in the security sector.
Accepting the nomination, Kana thanked the association for the recognition and pledged to attend the conference.
