Armed Forces remembrance day: Defence Ministry denies barring Channels TV, blames late arrival for restriction

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has dismissed reports alleging that operatives of Channels Television were deliberately denied access to cover the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day symposium held on Monday at the National Defence College, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Chief Information Officer, Iheoma-Hart Queeneth, on behalf of the Sub-Committee on Publicity, the Ministry clarified that the restriction was strictly a matter of protocol and security adherence regarding late arrival, rather than an attempt to censor the media.

The clarification follows reports broadcast by the television station suggesting its crew was prevented from covering the high-profile event.

The Ministry has described these reports as inaccurate, revealing that a cameraman from the station who arrived on schedule was, in fact, granted full access.

According to the statement, the Ministry had circulated a media advisory prior to the event, stipulating that the programme would commence promptly at 10:00 a.m.

The advisory explicitly requested all media personnel to be seated by 9:30 a.m. to facilitate accreditation, security screening, and the orderly seating of invited dignitaries.

“Contrary to reports broadcast by Channels TV, the Ministry did not bar Channel’s personnel from covering the event,” the statement read in part.

“The Channels TV cameraman who arrived and presented himself prior to the scheduled start was granted access and filmed the proceedings without interruption. The Channels TV reporter who attempted to enter the venue after the programme had commenced was denied late admission for security and protocol reasons.”

The Ministry emphasized that at the time the reporter attempted to gain entry, the event was already underway with high-profile dignitaries seated, making late admission a violation of standard security procedures.

While expressing regret over what it termed inaccurate reporting, the MOD reaffirmed its regard for Channels TV and other media organizations as critical partners in public information and transparency.

The Ministry urged media outlets to prioritize the verification of facts before broadcasting.

The statement concluded with an assurance that invited media organizations remain welcome to cover the remaining activities of the Armed Forces Celebration, provided they strictly adhere to event schedules and security protocols.