NAF to Nigerians: Believe official information released by us, not rumours

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, has called on Nigerians to have confidence in official information released by the Nigerian Air Force, saying the service is committed to truthfulness, accuracy and credibility in all its public communications.

Ejodame made the call while receiving executive members of the Defense Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) on a courtesy visit to the Directorate of Public Relations and Information at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja.

“Since I became Director of Public Relations and Information, I do not recall making any statements that were not truthful. Everything we publish is something we can confidently defend today or even twenty years from now. We stand by the accuracy of our communications,” he said.

He appealed to Nigerians to trust official information released by the Nigerian Air Force rather than relying on rumours, misinformation and unverified content circulating on social media.

The Air Commodore also praised defense correspondents for their professionalism, particularly their commitment to fact-checking before publication.

“There were occasions when you received information but chose to withhold publication until we confirmed the facts. Rather than rushing to publish unverified reports, you exercised restraint. This means a lot, not only to the Nigerian Air Force but also to the nation,” he said.

Ejodame warned that spreading false or unverified information could unintentionally aid terrorist groups by amplifying fear and disinformation.

He urged journalists and members of the public to verify information before sharing it and to support efforts to safeguard national security through responsible communication.

Earlier, the President of Defense Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Odita Sunday, congratulated Air Commodore Ejodame on his appointment and commended the Nigerian Air Force for its sacrifices in defending Nigeria from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other security threats.

He said DECAN remains committed to ethical, fair and responsible journalism and called for deeper collaboration through regular media briefings, improved access to information, operational engagements where appropriate and capacity-building programs for defense correspondents.

He also revealed on Sunday that the association is finalizing deals to launch The Defense Correspondent Journal, expressing optimism that the Nigerian Air Force would support the initiative.

The visit concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to sustaining a productive partnership aimed at promoting credible information, improving public understanding of military operations and contributing to national security.