The Federal Government has deployed a mobile application known as “Mobiliser” meant for youths to report crimes and criminalities in their areas within their comfort zones.

The director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Issa Lanre-Onilu, announced this on Wednesday, August, 14, during a meeting with media executives and top editors, at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja.

The DG who was represented by the Director of Press, Paul Odenyi, said that if youths knew a lot of lofty programmes the government has for them, they would embrace them and wouldn’t engage in any form of violence.

He said: “We know and are aware that it is very important to carry youth along in whatever programmes we do. I want to, therefore, use this medium to inform you that at the National Orientation Agency, we now have an App called ‘Mobiliser’, which Nigerian youth can download on their mobile phones and report crimes in their areas.”

Earlier, the national coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Laka, explained that the Center sees the media as critical partners in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimes, adding that it was expedient for both the media and the security agencies to be on the same page.

He added that, “The Centre, in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in June this year conducted a 2-day training on Conflict-Sensitive Reporting.

“While we count on your support and cooperation as the last gatekeepers hence all media contents are often published by your consent, it is in your place and sacred duty to take full control and effectively use your medium of communications to promote mutual trust, build unity among Nigerians and adequately counter the destructive ideologies and narratives of terrorist groups.

“There is no doubt that Media content has been well employed in the past to enlighten and reengineer the mind. They carry messages that encourage respect for human dignities, appreciation of our diversities, inspire loyalty and love of service for the fatherland,” he said.

A former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Chris Olukolade, emphasized that it was important for critical stakeholders which include the media to change the narratives about the country.

The meeting, which was convened by the Centre’s National Coordinator, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka also had a former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Olukolade; Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa among others. (The Nation)

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