By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The Chairman of the ceremony and state Commissioner of Police Muhammad Usaini Gumel (FIPMA) psc, made this known during the second lecture congress organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists Sokoto Council.
The congress attended by all the seven chapels in the state was also graced by the former council leaders, heads of media organizations and FM radios as well.
Delivering a lecture at the ceremony, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Usaini Gumel said due to the importance attached to journalism, whoever controls the media controls the minds of all adding that the press should ensure the flow of filtered information before releasing it to the general society as whatever one listens and consumed would remain indefinitely in his mind and would act upon.
He said the work of security agencies, most importantly the Police, is a public function involving regular interface with the public adding that the Policeman and the Police Institution are the most publicly observed entities of the law enforcement agencies anywhere in the world.
He further said they are subject of serious public scrutiny and often receive harsh assessment from the public.
“The media is an important platform of conveying the feelings of the society about the performance of the security agencies.
“Due to their professionalism, the media actors also play a vital role in ensuring fair assessment of the security agencies, the security situation in the society and the maintenance of law and order through their reportage”, averred the CP.
Gumel also duelled extensively on the current trends and impacts in security management, the need for journalists to have a balance in their stories and steps taken by Nigeria Police Force to checkmate citizen’s journalism in maintaining security among others.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Alhaji Akibu Dalhatu represented by his Permanent Secretary Ibrahim Adamu Goronyo while commending Gumel for the comprehensive presentation also reiterated the need for all working journalists to adhere and consume all that was contained in the presentation.
He said the state Ministry of Information and Orientation being a government eye and ears has in the recent times trained and contributed in the training of practicing journalists and information officers.
He said it is there must be good working relationship between the media and the Nigeria Police Force adding that it is the media that set the agenda for the society including the Police and therefore a tool for world dependency.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state Council Chairman, Dalhatu Abdullahi S/Magori emphasize on the need for journalists to be apolitical in their reportage adding that as the key to success, project for continuous training would be undertaken.
He said already 33 members drawn from the seven chapels under the sponsorship of Universal Basic Education were trained on various aspects of journalism.
With the current political transition, Safiyal Magori said more trainings are expected ahead of 2023 general elections reminding members on the need to possess new NUJ national ID card.
Speakers after speakers all commended the state NUJ Council for organizing the second informative congress that generates the attendance of security agencies, the role of the media to the society and the security agencies as well.
