Army Chief applauds the media, says its an important arm of military operations

BY PHILIP NWOSU

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has stressed the importance of carrying the media along in its non-kinetic operations, adding that no nation can progress without the media.
General Yahaya spoke during the Army headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs quarterly media interaction which held in Lagos saying that media plays an indispensable role as a watch dog in reportage and perception management.
The Chief of Army Staff who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Major General Obinna Ajunwa stressed the importance of having the media get involved in the Nigerian Army’s non-kinetic lines of operations, noting that it is to ensure a peaceful and secure nation.
He said that the media interaction is apt and emphasizes the importance of the critical roles of the media in the Nigerian Army Non-kinetic line of operations, adding that Media Chat provided an avenue for the Department to engage various media practitioners and influencers with a view to charting new ways for a more mutually beneficial relationship between the force and the media, as well as improving media reportage for enhancement of the Nigerian Army Operations along Non-Kinetic lines.
He said that the First Quarter 2022 Media Chart was held in Abuja. And that there is no better time than now to hold the interaction, especially “as we approach the yuletide and electioneering seasons in which all effort must be put in place to ensure these events take place in a peaceful and secure environment.
He added that, “The Civil Military department in the Army headquarters is holding this Third Quarter Media Chat here in Lagos, as Lagos being the hub of the Media in Nigeria, would afford the Nigerian Army of an opportunity of better media coverage to the general citizenry.
“It would specifically make them aware of the Department of Civil Military Affair’s activities. I acknowledge and appreciate such programs as the Quick Impact Programs and the Special Intervention CIMIC Projects of the Nigerian Army through the Department of Civil Military Affairs which has brought the Nigerian Army closer to many communities. Most importantly, the Department’s effort to ensure the media is carried along in its activities towards securing the nation.”
Earlier the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army) Major General Marcos Kangye said the unit was established to bolster hitherto frosty relationship between men of the Armed Forces and the civil populace.
General Kangye said the department os working towards ensuring and enhanced civil military relationship, through cooperation, visits effective liaison, advocacy and mediation.
He said with the coming of the Civil Military department in the military, the number of petitions that had hitherto flooding the legal unit of the depart had reduced, adding that