Flag officer commanding urges media to tackle misinformation

Mr Oamen said that nobody really gained from strategies that were attributable to misinformation.

News Agency of Nigeria • January 11, 2025

Nigerian Navy

The Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Micheal Oamen, has called on the media to manage misinformation capable of misleading the public, as we begin 2025.

Mr Oamen made the request during an end-of-year media engagement held at the Western Naval Command, Lagos.

According to him, the speed at which information is generated and transmitted today is such that one must keep pace with it to manage it in ensuring national security.

He said, “Misinformation and all forms of hindrances that will make just a simple incident become out of proportion must be managed. So, the Western Naval Command is aware of such reality and we have decided that we must engage with the media within our sphere to have a platform to close that gap.’’

The FOC said that once there was such a gap, it would be exploited; therefore, having a platform to constantly engage with the media would help iron out issues.

“Such platform will help straighten up any misconception or misinformation and that way we all will be contributing our quota to the attainment of our national security objective. In addition to our kinetic engagement, we have what we call the non-kinetic which encompasses our relationship with the larger society. Here, we try as much as possible to let every stakeholder in society play their own part in ensuring national security,” he said.

Mr Oamen said that nobody really gained from strategies that were attributable to misinformation or wrong use of the information spectrum.

According to him, when each person makes society good, society will be good for everybody.

The FOC said that the year 2024 was quite eventful for the command and appreciated the role that the media played in informing the public of all its activities.

“As we look forward to 2025, the Western Naval Command, being the premier operational command of the Navy, we will be engaging in many exercises and activities. Therefore, we are going to count on your support to inform the public of our efforts, so that at the end of the day, the nation is better for it,” Mr Oamen said.

(NAN)

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