Col. Antigha Emphasizes Role of Information in Strengthening National Security and Development
By Exponent News, Akure – 22nd June 2025
In a thought-provoking presentation, Colonel Timothy Antigha (RTD) Executive Director Armed Forces Radio Service Abuja ,has underlined the critical role of information in driving national security, sustainable development, and operational success in Nigeria’s military. Speaking at a high-level military-media forum, Col. Antigha articulated a well-researched framework connecting information management to effective governance and societal stability.
He began by demystifying the concept of information, explaining it as more than just data—it is knowledge contextualized to reduce uncertainty and enhance understanding. Referencing scholars like Robert Sheldon and Maria Wester, Col. Antigha stressed that processed and structured information plays a transformative role in decision-making, strategic planning, and system design.
Delving into the interconnectedness of information, national security, and development, Col. Antigha emphasized that public information and ICT stand as pillars in modern military operations. He noted that recent global conflicts, such as the Israel-Iran confrontation, demonstrate the potency of information warfare and the urgent need for Nigeria to adapt accordingly.
He defined national security not just in military terms, but through a broader lens that includes economic, environmental, and cyber dimensions. Similarly, development was contextualized as a multi-faceted effort to improve citizens’ quality of life and ensure sustainability.
Col. Antigha described Nigerian military operations as involving both combat and civil support roles. He stressed that the military’s ability to act efficiently in these roles is heavily influenced by the flow and management of information.
The presentation detailed the nature of information—as both abstract and concrete—and explained its dynamic, subjective, and evolving characteristics. Citing Andrew Sheehy, Col. Antigha likened information to a “formative principle” that, while intangible, has real-world implications, particularly for strategic military communication.
He also tackled challenges in information management, highlighting issues such as:
Accuracy – Ensuring reliable and verifiable data
Timeliness – Delivering information when it is still relevant
Objectivity – Avoiding bias to maintain public trust
Lack of situational awareness – Bridging information gaps between the military and the press
Fake news and crisis communication – Combating misinformation and managing public narratives during emergencies
He urged military information managers to ensure regular and transparent briefings for journalists covering conflict zones. This, he argued, would reduce the media’s frustration and improve mutual understanding.
Col. Antigha also noted that Nigeria’s national security challenges—including terrorism, banditry, separatist agitations, and hunger—are directly stalling development. Citing the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, which ranks Nigeria as the sixth most terrorized nation globally, he warned that worsening conditions could further derail national progress.
Referencing a Business Daily report, he estimated that economic losses due to separatist-imposed lockdowns in the Southeast have reached $7.6 trillion over four years, with over 776 lives lost. He pointed out that such security breakdowns harm educational institutions, local economies, and social cohesion across all regions.
However, he remained cautiously optimistic: “While information alone cannot resolve our complex crises, creative and strategic management of information can meaningfully mitigate them.”
In terms of implications for military operations, he identified several benefits of enhanced information flow:
Improved human rights records – through better community engagement and cultural sensitivity
Operational efficiency – via digital communication and streamlined command structures
Public accountability – fostering transparency during operations
Reduced sabotage – through civil-military cooperation and mutual respect
Positive public perception – building trust and legitimacy for the military
He recounted a 2017 intervention in Monguno, Borno State, where organizing a youth football tournament significantly reduced Boko Haram attacks by occupying idle youths. This, he said, is a classic example of how information-led strategies can yield tangible security dividends.
He concluded by reiterating the need for military and media professionals to invest in training, develop interpersonal skills, and master the dynamics of narrative management in a volatile information ecosystem.
“In a world where wars begin in the minds of men,” Col. Antigha remarked, quoting UNESCO, “it is in those same minds that peace must be nurtured—through informed, deliberate, and strategic communication.”
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