The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on media professionals to take the lead in combating misinformation and fake news, stressing that dominance of the information space is critical to national security and operational success.

Speaking at the opening of the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR) Combined First and Second Quarter Media Workshop 2026 on Tuesday at the Army War College Nigeria, the Army Chief described strategic communication as a vital force multiplier in modern military operations.

Represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, Shaibu noted that effective media integration has become indispensable to joint and multi-agency operations, particularly in an era where public perception can significantly influence security outcomes.

According to him, the media remains a crucial partner in shaping public narratives, building confidence in security institutions and preventing adversaries from exploiting information gaps through misinformation and disinformation.

Addressing the workshop theme, “Media Integration as a Force Multiplier for Joint and Multi-Agency Operational Success,” the COAS said the gathering provides an important platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, adopt global best practices in conflict-sensitive reporting and develop coordinated strategies to counter false narratives.

He further highlighted the operational gains achieved by the Nigerian Army through improved intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and unified planning, adding that such successes must be effectively communicated to sustain public trust and deny hostile actors the opportunity to distort realities.

The Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending the nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order, while commending the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, for advancing the Army’s strategic communication efforts.

Earlier, Anele underscored the growing importance of information management in addressing modern security challenges, warning that fake news, misinformation, disinformation and Artificial Intelligence-generated content now pose significant threats beyond the traditional battlefield.

She stressed that stronger collaboration between the military and media organisations remains essential to ensuring accurate information dissemination, promoting national cohesion and preventing the manipulation of public opinion by hostile actors.

Further details from the workshop are expected as deliberations continue on strategies to strengthen media engagement and counter emerging information threats.