The Military High Command yesterday sought a strengthened relationship with Media Trust Limited, owners of Daily Trust newspapers and Trust Television.
The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, made the request when he led officers of the Directorate of Defence Information to the corporate head office of the company.
He requested the company to help the military in its efforts to keep Nigeria safe by reaching out to the nooks and crannies of where troops cannot reach.
He noted that the media and the military have the responsibility of protecting the nation.
According to him, while the military protects the territorial integrity of Nigeria; the media protects its soul by ensuring the unity of Nigeria.
“From your reach and spread, you’ve been able to bring news from the most remote corners of the country. Therefore, many Nigerians depend on you for news.
“So, you’re doing a very great job and we are also happy with the degree of collaboration with the armed forces of Nigeria. From the mandate, you also have to manage the image of the country and so we’re almost doing the same thing.
“While we’re mandated to keep the borders safe, which is the territorial integrity of the country, and to maintain the physical space, you’ve the sacred role to manage the soul of the country.
“So, while ours is kinetic, yours is mostly non-kinetic and there are so many things that kinetic cannot destroy. What is sown in the mind cannot be destroyed by kinetics, but by non-kinetics.
“The main objective of my visit to you is to leverage on the support and collaboration that had endured between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and Media Trust Limited,” he said.
Responding, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Media Trust Ltd, Malam Nura Daura, said the company would work with the military in the fight against terrorism.
The Editor-in-Chief of Daily Trust, Malam Naziru Mikail, urged the military to always be willing to share its successes with the media, particularly Media Trust Ltd, to keep Nigerians abreast of its sacrifices.
