Special Adviser to Governor Agbu Kefas on Media and Digital Communication, Hon. Emmanuel Bello has said Taraba State is recording security gains under the Governor’s leadership, while tasking the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to prioritize coverage of the 2027 general elections and ensure free, fair, and transparent polls.
Bello spoke to journalists in Abuja on Friday shortly after the NUJ National Security Summit, where media-security relations dominated discussions.
Bello said the synergy between the media and security agencies is timely because “the number one thing on everybody’s lips right now is safety of lives and property. Governments across the country are being judged by how much they are able to secure their people.”
He described the NUJ as “the conscience of the nation” with an honourable task to hold governments accountable. “It’s not enough that we tell the story, sometimes we have to set peace and set the agenda,” he said, urging journalists to partner with security agencies in managing the security conversation responsibly.
The SA noted a shift in the posture of the Department of State Services, DSS, toward the media. “Lately we discovered that the DSS are not like before,” he said, adding that while journalism thrives on openness and free speech, security agencies operate on secrecy for covert operations.
“So we must understand each other and understanding of our roles and methods can bring greater understanding between the two,” Bello stated.
On Taraba’s security architecture, Bello said the state is “very media friendly” under Gov Kefas. He quoted the Governor as believing strongly in free speech and in the role journalists can play in securing the state.
“Our Governor will always tell reporters: you can check around and see. He believes journalists can really help in securing the state better, which is why he has periodic interactions with journalists in the state,” Bello said.
He added that Gov Kefas recognizes that journalists “sometimes see things that security agencies may miss” and can guide conversations while pointing out areas of concern in communities.
“The presidency has said one of the things we have done very well is securing the lives and property of citizens of Taraba,” Bello claimed, noting that the Governor’s approach is holistic: “Security actually belongs to everyone. Governance might be in the hand of a few people, but security is the job of everybody including our colleagues.”
Shifting to democracy, Bello tasked the NUJ to make elections its next major focus after the security summit. “There are other areas of challenge. Elections are public, the NUJ must look at the whole issue and ensure the institution responsible for conducting elections does the right thing,” he said.
“My word to NUJ is: the next story should focus on elections. Elections and simple decisions. Free speech is very important, but more important is free and fair elections. That is the bedrock of democracy,” Bello declared.
He stressed that journalists must use their platform to promote transparency and accountability in the electoral process ahead of 2027.
