Social media now priority for national security — Ribadu
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said social media have become a priority and issue of national security.Ribadu stated this in Abuja at a meeting with spokespersons of organisations under the umbrella of Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee.
According to the NSA, negative use of social media constituted both local and global threats.Ribadu disclosed that the National Security Strategy (NSS) was last reviewed in 2015, a situation that gave rise to the launch of the 2019 version, which he said was now under review.
He directed media managers in the defence, security and response agencies to change their approach to engaging with the public and countering disinformation from enemies of the country.
This comes as the detained terrorist negotiator, Mohammed Tukur Mamu, begged a Federal High Court, Abuja, to order his release from the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS) to the Correctional Centre in Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NSS document is reviewed every five years in view of the changing dynamics of security threats in the country.Ribadu said members of the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee must be proactive and strategic in national security communication management.
He said the spokesmen in the security sector must address the worrying use of the media and social media platforms in creating division between the citizens and governments at various levels.
Ribadu also listed the preponderance of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation as threats to national security and public engagement.
He said, “Across the world, we have also assessed the adept use of social media platforms by those who seek power to shape public opinion against citizens. This threat is both global and local and presents an immediate national security priority.“
The urgency to prepare and be proactive in our national security strategic communication management is now, and the spokespersons have a critical role to play.”
He said, “Across the world, we have also assessed the adept use of social media platforms by those who seek power to shape public opinion against citizens. This threat is both global and local and presents an immediate national security priority.“
The urgency to prepare and be proactive in our national security strategic communication management is now, and the spokespersons have a critical role to play.
He said, “Across the world, we have also assessed the adept use of social media platforms by those who seek power to shape public opinion against citizens. This threat is both global and local and presents an immediate national security priority.“
The urgency to prepare and be proactive in our national security strategic communication management is now, and the spokespersons have a critical role to play.”
Ribadu asserted that the National Security Strategy 2019, currently under review, identified strategic communication as an element of national power.
He said the strategy should be integrated into all operational aspects, including information operations, psychological operations, public diplomacy and public relations, so as to project the country’s national power and values.
