The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Africa has urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the necessary political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

It also advised the government to desist from stifling the media and responsible journalism with draconian policies.

The organisation’s West Africa Regional Director, Dr. Felix Oisamoje, gave the advice at a press briefing to mark CBN’s 30 years of existence at the weekend in Abuja.

According to Oisamoje, the government possesses the knowledge and resources to combat insurgency and other security threats, but he said what is needed is the necessary will to take bold action.

He said, “You want to stop birds from coming to lay a nest on your tree, uproot it. It is just as simple as that. If you uproot the tree, there won’t be anything there for birds to come and lay a nest. So the problem, obviously, is a problem of insecurity. It’s the government that can solve that problem. I’ll be honest, private individuals like us can’t do anything. The best we can do is continue to go in and intervene with things that will mitigate the impact on the victims.

“But the government has to have the political will and be decisive in dealing with it, because until they deal with the problem of insurgents, we will continue to have that problem. They know what to do, but whether they have the political will to do it is another question.”

Oisamoje maintained that no nation can function effectively and democratically without the watchdog role played by journalists.

Oisamoje clarified that he was not in support of blackmail and jaundiced journalistic practices, but credible and verified reporting.

He said: “The government should provide an enabling environment for the media to practise their profession without hindrance.

“A situation where a TV journalist, a radio journalist, or a newspaper journalist is afraid to report the truth because somebody is going to do something to them is not healthy for the practice of the journalism profession.

“Part of the problems we are suffering as media professionals is self-censorship.

“Why are we suffering from self-censorship? It is because people have done their jobs and they did it well and they got arrested for it and your family does not know where you are, meanwhile, you are languishing somewhere.

“So, self-censorship will begin to set in and make it difficult for us to practise our trade the way it should be done. So, if the government can allow the media to practise the trade properly, I am not saying to practise recklessly, and if they do, there are institutions set up by government to check it.

“The government should allow the institutions to do what they are supposed to do, and I believe that the practice of journalism will blossom and Nigeria will be better.”

Oisamoje listed some CBN’s humanitarian efforts, including providing relief to victims of natural disasters and insurgent attacks through Operation Blessing. The organisation has been active in areas like Borno, Adamawa, and Plateau, offering medical aid, clean water, and support to vulnerable communities across Anglophone West Africa.

He said: “CBN transforms lives through our Humanitarian arm, Operation Blessing (OB).

“From as far back as 1998 when we brought relief to victims of the Jesse pipeline explosion in Delta State, to bringing comfort to communities affected by natural disasters like floods, CBN Africa has supported and strengthened vulnerable families.

“In a world where insurgent attacks leave carnage and devastation behind, Operation Blessing is on the ground to bring relief interventions to victims of attacks in places like Borno, Adamawa, and Plateau.

“We continue to support communities by training volunteer healthcare workers and setting up Rural Clinics across the country.

“Clean Water is essential to life and since the year 2000, we have brought clean water to many villages across Anglophone West Africa.

“Numerous communities have also benefited from our life-changing surgeries and mobile medical clinics. Our outreaches have brought a new lease of life to countless orphans, orphanages, and vulnerable children across the region.”