The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, has charged media practitioners to uphold accuracy, balanced and objective reportage of issues of national interest.
He gave the charge when the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Micheal Enenche Onoja, led a team on a courtesy visit to the Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt Barracks.
The GOC thanked the Chief of Defence Staff for the initiative of allowing members of the press to witness firsthand the activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria across various theatres of operation. He noted that the military remains open to constructive criticism in areas where improvement is required.
Major General Emekah further stated that the Ministry of Defence ought to have a team of qualified media professionals to properly articulate military operations, stressing that accurate and objective reportage would strengthen public trust and national security efforts.
He disclosed that one of the core objectives of the 6 Division is the protection of the nation’s critical infrastructure, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
According to him, since he assumed command in January 2025, the Division achieved no case of vandalism of pipeline due to extensive operations conducted in collaboration with other government security agencies as well as private security agencies such as Tantita.
He further maintained that oil production has increased significantly per day. He also revealed that the Federal Government has mandated the Division to intensify the fight against illegal oil bunkering in order to achieve the national target of 3 million barrels of oil per day.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director,.Defence Media Operations, Major General Onoja expressed appreciation to the GOC for the warm reception accorded to him and his team. He noted that many people are unaware of the critical role of the media in national affairs, stressing the need for timely counter-narratives and rejoinders to misleading stories often generated by non-state actors.
He described the press as the “Fourth Estate of the Realm” due to its vital role in society, adding that Section 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria mandates the mass media to uphold the fundamental objectives of the state and hold the government accountable.
He assured that the Directorate of Defence Media Operations would continue to partner with media practitioners and government institutions to ensure the achievement of Nigeria’s national security objectives.
A statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma Acting Deputy Director,6 Division Nigerian army public relations said he also commended the sacrifices of troops across various theatres of military operations and called on Nigerians to cooperate with the Armed Forces and other security agencies to restore the nation’s past glory.
