The Association of Defence Correspondents of Nigeria (ADCON) has called for a stronger professional partnership with the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division to promote accurate, balanced and responsible reporting of defence and security matters.
The association made the call during its first courtesy visit to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, in Lagos.
The visit, led by ADCON President, Mr Philip Nwosu of The Sun Newspapers, was aimed at formally introducing the association to the GOC, presenting its members and strengthening communication between defence correspondents and the Division.
Other members of the delegation were Dr Hope Orivri of Onepage Africa Media, Mr Eugene Agha of Daily Trust, Mr Victor Mbadike of News Central, Mr Hyacinth Nwafor of Hybrid News, Mr Dennis Okosun of National Wire, Mr Onuora Aninwobodo of Nigeria Info and Wazobia Radio, Mr Bertram Nwannekanma of The Guardian, Mrs Mary Abayomi-Fatile of Radio Nigeria and Mr Mike Osemeke of Newsflash 247.
Nwosu said ADCON was established to provide a credible professional platform for journalists specialising in coverage of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security institutions.
He said the association was committed to promoting responsible defence journalism, strengthening the professional capacity of correspondents and encouraging accurate and balanced reporting of security developments.
According to him, defence reporting remains a specialised area of journalism because it requires an understanding of military operations, security procedures and national security considerations, as well as the need to balance the public’s right to information with legitimate operational sensitivities.
Nwosu said ADCON was seeking an open and structured relationship with 81 Division that would enable accredited defence correspondents to obtain credible information from appropriate military authorities and report the activities of the Division responsibly.
He stressed that the request was not for preferential treatment or unrestricted access to sensitive information, but for improved professional engagement that could reduce misinformation, speculation and inaccurate reporting during security operations.
The ADCON president also said the association was prepared to highlight the sacrifices of officers and soldiers, humanitarian activities, civil military relations, peacebuilding efforts and other initiatives of the Armed Forces aimed at protecting the country.
He assured the GOC that members of ADCON would continue to uphold professional journalism ethics and respect legitimate security considerations while discharging their constitutional responsibility of informing the public.
Responding, Babalola thanked the delegation for making out time to visit the Division, noting that the relationship between the military and the media remained important to national security.
The GOC, who said he had interacted with several members of ADCON since assuming command on January 20, said the media had an important role in helping the public understand military operations and the sacrifices made by personnel.
He urged defence correspondents to give adequate attention to the successes of the Armed Forces while also reporting challenges and mistakes with context and accuracy. Babalola said the Nigerian Army had recorded successes across various theatres of operation which, in his view, deserved appropriate media attention.
The GOC said the Division’s doors remained open to journalists seeking clarification on issues concerning its activities, adding that regular briefings, professional engagements, familiarisation visits and other interactions would help strengthen understanding between the military and the defence media.
Babalola further assured ADCON of continued collaboration, stressing that closer engagement between military authorities and journalists would help promote accurate information, reduce misinformation and improve public understanding of national security operations. He described the courtesy visit as significant and pledged the Division’s support for a sustained professional relationship with the association.