The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has tasked media professionals with taking a leading role in countering misinformation and fake news, stressing that dominance of the information space is essential to strengthening national security and achieving operational success.

Shaibu made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR) Combined First and Second Quarter Media Workshop 2026 held at the Army War College Nigeria in Abuja.

The Army Chief described strategic communication as a critical force multiplier in modern military operations, noting that effective media integration is indispensable to joint and multi-agency operational success. He said the media remains a vital partner in shaping public perception, building confidence and preventing adversaries from exploiting information gaps.

Represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, Shaibu said sustained media engagement and public support had become strategic imperatives across all theatres of operation. He added that transparent and proactive communication enhances credibility, fosters public trust and strengthens the nation’s security architecture.

Speaking on the theme of the workshop, “Media Integration as a Force Multiplier for Joint and Multi-Agency Operational Success,” the COAS said the event was timely and provided an avenue for stakeholders to exchange ideas, adopt global best practices in conflict-sensitive reporting and develop coordinated strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation.

He further highlighted operational gains recorded by the Nigerian Army through enhanced inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and unified planning, stressing that such achievements must be effectively communicated to sustain public confidence and prevent the distortion of operational realities by hostile actors.

Shaibu reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order. He also commended the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, for organizing the workshop and advancing the Army’s strategic communication capabilities.

The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his continued support and strategic guidance aimed at improving the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

Earlier, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the workshop was designed to address emerging security challenges in an increasingly complex information environment.

According to her, contemporary threats now extend beyond the battlefield into the information domain, where fake news, misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence-generated content pose significant risks to national security.

Anele stressed that collaboration between the military and the media is crucial to ensuring accurate information dissemination, strengthening national cohesion and preventing hostile actors from exploiting the information space for destabilisation.

She also thanked the Chief of Army Staff for his leadership and sustained investment in personnel development, modernization and strategic communication, which she said had enhanced the Nigerian Army’s capacity to respond to current and emerging security challenges.