By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has called on Nigerians to take ownership of the Armed Forces and see it as an integral part of the national family.

Idris made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the Maiden Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Civil-Military Relation Conference, with the theme, ?Winning Hearts and Minds: Non-Kinetic Approaches to National Security?.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa, said that Nigerians must begin to see the military not as an occupying force, but a force for good, protection and progress.

He said the effectiveness and efficiency of the military depended on the full ownership and participation of all Nigerians.

According to him, the Nigerian military is not a foreign entity, rather an integral part of our national family that must be proudly owned and respected by the citizens it serves.

He lamented that due to the past involvement of the military in governance, Nigerians had developed negative perceptions about the military, but after several years of civilian rule that perceptions must change.

?The reality we face today is uncomfortable but undeniable: a trust deficit exists between the military and many segments of the Nigerian population.

?Civilians, in some quarters, perceive the Armed Forces not as partners in peace, but as a force of aggression, brutal, offensive, and distant.

?This perception, whether based on history, misinformation, or isolated incidents, poses a grave threat to national unity and stability.

?Yet, let us remember that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are not a foreign entity. They are not detached machinery.

?They are a national institution, owned, funded, and mandated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on behalf of every Nigerian citizen. In truth, the Armed Forces belong to the people.

?Therefore, it is time for our people to reclaim that ownership. It is time for Nigerians to see the military as an integral part of our national family, not an occupying force, but a force for good, for protection, and for progress,? he said.

The minister said the conference marked a crucial step toward achieving that vision by focusing on non-kinetic strategies, dialogue, community engagement, media sensitisation, and humanitarian collaboration.

He added that national security was not only about firepower, but also about trust, empathy, and partnership.

Idris urged the media and other critical stakeholders to champion the efforts of rebranding the image of the Nigerian military as a force that belongs to the people and committed to protecting the country to achieve desired peace and economic development.

?We must be deliberate in reshaping the public narrative about our Armed Forces. We must amplify stories of sacrifice, of community service, of lives saved and dignity restored.

?We must challenge misinformation and foster responsible reporting.

?Moreover, we must build stronger bridges of interaction through town halls, joint projects, civic education, and institutional frameworks that keep the military close to the heartbeat of the nation.?

He assured that the Federal Ministry of Information stands ready to work hand in hand with the Defence Headquarters, civil society, and the media to implement the outcomes of the conference.

?Together, we will shape a new chapter in Civil-Military Relations, one rooted in mutual respect, transparency, and shared purpose,? he added.

The minister commended the DHQ for organising the conference, which he described as timely and essential. (NAN)

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