Yakubu Busari
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) office of the Commandant General, Alh. Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu has flag-off free public security /safety training series to Plateau State council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) .
Represented by the commandant NSCDC, Plateau state, Commander Solomon Olasupo while declaring the occasion open at the conference hall of NUJ, Plateau state.
He said the Plateau state command has resolve to make security education as an integral part of the media partnership programme (MPP) ,adding journalists should be involved in the process of educating the public on the danger of coverage.
The NSCDC in collaboration with NUJ have partner to train journalists on security concept, media /security operation health tips, tips on media video recordings, photo journalism and conflict coverage.
The events was kick-start with screening of journalists and general public on high blood pressure follow by lecture the program of creating awareness to avert disaster and various forms of threat to lives and properties which 10 million Nigerian are been targeted within first quarter.
According to him, the command commences the training of 100 pupils of primary schools on the risk of war and the consequences attached its crisis period.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the occasion, former commissioner first Governor of Plateau state police commissioner, Joseph Gwom Walk, Hon Gideon Barde thanked the NSCDC commandant General for organizing the workshop to educate and enlightened journalists on the important of health and training.
He commended the leadership of NUJ, for the initiative which he maintain that security is a natural law for every man .
” we feel more insecure nowadays on like in the 70s when the security of lives and properties was a not a priority of government ,then, our houses were always open 24 hours without any trace of criminally minded individual lottery around to catch and steal ,kidnap and killed .
Barde revealed that journalists whose preoccupation is to gather information and process it’s into news whether published or aired on radio are been harass by security across the globe.
He described the profession as the second most arduous job in the world including the soldiers by calling world leaders to recognize, respect the contribution of the media in nation building.
The former commissioner for information appeals that all security apparatus should not be harassing members of media rather than forward complain to the proper authority or leadership umbrella.
He urged journalists to be very sensitive while conducting themselves in the area of covering of news items.
The council Chairman Mr Yakubu Taddy, we appreciate the training very deeply stresses that journalists used to be secure before the situation became worse.
He cautioned journalists to key into insurance scheme for their safety of lives to avoid colloquial damage to the society.
He warned security apparatus to stop besieged on our members at any point our members are arrested for what they reports, we want security to ensure accountability and transparency as government officials.
