Rivalry Amongst Security Agencies; Bad For Nigeria – CCC

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has said that conflicting information, disinformation and rivalries among respective security agencies through the media have potential of damaging the reputation of the agencies involved and give Nigeria a bad image.
Executive Secretary of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd), who stated this on Wednesday at a meeting of the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) in Abuja, therefore called on security agencies to avoid inter-agency rivalry which can damage the reputation of the government as a whole.
Air Commodore Anas (rtd), told members of the FOSSRA at the meeting which coincided with the United Nations World Press Freedom Day that the CCC observed some disturbing trends that include blame games and breaches in information disclosures among agencies of government in the media.
According to him; “We have also noticed conflicting information, disinformation and rivalries among respective organizations through the media. We at the Centre therefore call for restraint as we urge effective synergy, collaboration and cooperation among agencies to protect their image and that of our country as we protect our national security interest.”
While commemorating with the media on the World Press Freedom Day, the CCC called on the media to continue to engage with the security and response agencies in Nigeria to positively inform and public.
Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman, urged members of FOSSRA as the spokespersons of their respective organizations to handle information activities professionally and responsibly.
Usman said: “As spokespersons of security agencies, we should use our platforms to synergize and collaborate in harmonizing security information. We should always interact by sharing professional ideas towards eliminating incidences of conflicting sensitive information released to the public by our organizations.
“This is a period where we need to guard against all unnecessary bickering within the security milieu.”
The forum commended the positive roles of the media in deepening democracy, enhancing security enlightenment among the public as well as providing veritable platforms for interactions among the citizens.
Participants at the forum included officers from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Defense Headquarters (DHQ), Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of State Service (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
Others included Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Fire Service (FSS), and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).