_.gif)
_.gif)
Building Trust in Media Coverage of Security Issues in Nigeria
Abstract
The media in a democratic setting exists to inform, educate and entertain the general public. The media are referred to as the Fourth Estate of the nation with oversight functions on the activities of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Despite the return to democratic governance in 1999, Nigeria has witnessed an increase in security challenges, from the Sharia based riots in 1999, Sagamu riots in 2000, the Jos riots in 2008, through the Chibok girls abduction by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014 to the Kaduna Shite clashes with the Army in 2015. Till date, majority of the over 200 secondary school girls abducted at Chibok still remain in captivity. The objective of this study is to examine to what extent the Nigerian media has played the role of agenda setting through media reports that adhere to objectivity, truth and balance. This study adopted the content analysis method of media reports on security challenges and discovered that, such issues as media ownership, poor remuneration of media practitioners, corruption, religion and ethnicity tend to colour media reports which negatively impacts on the quality of and adherence to ethics of media coverage. This results in the discerning public treating such reports with little or no trust. This report recommends the improvement in the remuneration of media practitioners, effective implementation of freedom of information act, regular media summits on coverage of conflicts, co-operation of the security agencies with the media and a strict adherence to ethics of media as definitive steps that need to be urgently implemented in restoring the lost trust in media coverage of conflicts in Nigeria. In addition, media bodies such as the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) must lead the fight in ensuring ethical journalism thrives and ownership does not become an albatross to the industry.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Ali, D.A. (2013). The role of the media in national security in Nigeria 1960-1999. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (OMAN Chapter), 2(12), 55-67.
Altheide, D. (2017). The Mass Media and Terrorism. Discourse & Communication, 1(3), 287-308.
Anaeto, S. G., Onabajo, O.S. & Osifeso, J.M. (2009). Models and theories ofcommunication USA: African Renaissance Books Incorporated
Aondover, E. M. & Pate, H. (2021). National interest, freedom of expression and the Nigerian press in contemporary democratic context. Brazilian Journal of African Studies, 6(11), 233-249.
Aondover, E. M., & Obasi, M. (2025). Identity and the Narratives of Conflict in Nigerian Media. In Media, Conflicts and the National Security Question: Communicating (In) security in Nigeria, West Africa and the Sahel (pp. 315-334). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Aondover, E. M., Daushe, A. U., Ogunbola, O., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Media Coverage of Internally Displaced Persons in two Selected Newspapers in Nigeria. Journal of Migration and Health, 11, 100301.
Aondover, E. M., Mohammed, I., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Ogunbola, O. (2025). Press Coverage of Corruption Scandal in Nigeria. Indian Journal of Mass Communication and Journalism (IJMCJ), 4(3), 34-42.
Aondover, E. M., Tosin, Y. A. N., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Exploring the Application of Social Media in Governance in Nigeria. SIASAT, 10(1), 30-43.
Aondover, E.M., Garba, S., & Rabiu, A. B. (2023). Framing Theory Perspective of Identity and Narratives of Conflict in Nigerian Media. Indian Journal of Mass Communication and Journalism, 1(2), 1-5.
Cottle, S. (2006). Mediatized Conflict: Development in Media and Conflict Studies. New York: Open University Press
Eze, C. (2018). Social Media And National Security: Issues, Challenges And Prospects. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Reviews Vol.8 No.1, April 2018; p.248 – 255,
Hamid, A. & Baba, I. (2014). Resolving Nigeria’s Boko Haram Insurgence: What Role for the Media? Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 155, 14 – 20
Kwaja, C. (2009). Strategies for rebuilding State capacity to Manage ethnic and Religious Conflict in Nigeria. Journal of Pan African Studies, 3, 105 – 115.
McQuail, D. (1987). Mass Communication Theory in Introduction. London: Sage
Msughter, A. E., Hile, M. M., & Yar’Adua, S. M. (2023). Ethical Issues and Insecurity in Africa: The Media Dimension. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 10(2), 58-68.
Musa, A. and Ferguson, N. (2013) “Enemy framing and the politics of reporting religious Conflicts in the Nigerian press” Media, War & Conflicts vol.6 n1 pp7-21.
Ngige, C.V. Badekale, A.F. & Hamman, J. I. (2016). The media and Boko haram insurgency in Nigeria: A content analysis and review. International Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies (IJPCS), 3(1), 58- 65.
Nwabueze, C., & Ebeze, E. (2013). Mass media relevance in combating insecurity in Nigeria, International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 2(2), 861-870.
Nwankwo, S. U. et al (2023). The Media, Security Challenges and the Future of Nigeria: A Theoretical Overview, African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies AJPAS, 16(2): 312-341
Odunlami, D. (2017). ‘Sleeping on the Feet with Open Eyes! Newspaper Coverage of the Herdsmen/Farmers’ Conflict in Nigeria’ in Umaru Pate and Lai Oso Multiculturalism, Diversity and Reporting Conflict in Nigeria, Ibadan: Evans Publishers, p. 180-204.
Ogu, E. & Oyerinde, O. (2014). ICT and National Security in Developing and Underdeveloped Countries: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: A Case Study of Nigeria’s Cyberspace. International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technologies, 5(4), 5625- 5633.
Olukotun, A. (2011). “Reporting Identity Conflicts and Journalism Education in Africa.” African Journal of International Affairs and Development vol.15, no1, pp.125-140
Olukotun, A. ed (2018). Watchdogs Or Captured Media? A Study of The Role of The Media In Nigeria’s Emergent Democracy 1999-2016, Diamond Publications Limited.
Omemma, D.A. (2017). Security Challenges and democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: An Exploration, Studies in Politics and Society, 5(1), 126 – 140.
Onyejelem, T. E., Aondover, E. M., Adewale, O. C., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Chime-Nganya, C. R. (2025). Global Terrorism and Media Reportage of Boko Haram Cases in the 21st Century. SIASAT, 10(1), 71-83.
Oso, L. (2011). Press under the Military: the IBB years. In L. Oso and U. Pate (Eds.), Mass Media and Society in Nigeria (pp: 121-140). Lagos: Malthouse press.
Owens-Ibie, N., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). Issues in Contemporary Journalism Education and Practice in Nigeria: Volume 1. Vernon Press.
Owens-Ibie, N., Oyeleye, S. A., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). Application of Social Media for Rumour Governance in Nigeria. Journalism, 15(1), 14-23.
Sanda H. U. (2017). Media Ethics and National Security in Digital Media, New Order? Emergent Practices in the Nigerian Media Environment, ACSPN Book Series (2), pp. 78— 94 Retrieved from http://www.acspn.org/index.php/books
Ugbegili, S. (2018). Historical Perceptions on Nigeria’s National Security. Paper Presented at the 53rd Annual Congress of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN), Gombe State University, Gombe.
Urowayino, J. (Vanguard Newspaper, 10 January 2020). "Amotekun not agenda to divide Nigeria S'West govs", [online] Available at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/amotekun-not-agenda-to- divide-nigeria-swest-govs/.
Yar’Adua, S. M., & Aondover, E.M (2023). Peace journalism and development: An appraisal of Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33258/birci.v8i3.8109
Article Metrics
Abstract view : 0 timesPDF - 0 times
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.