Newspaper Framing Of “Ruga” Settlement Programme Of Nigerian Government And The Challenges Of National Security

Abstract

When the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari assumed office as the president of Nigeria in 2015, the age-long herders-farmers confrontations  resurfaced albeit, with much venom and vehemence. Newspapers, through their news reports and comments also gave vent to the volatile development which has impacted negatively on the country’s security and  foreign direct  investment drive. Efforts to salvage the situation by the Federal Government through the introduction of Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements was also met with vehement opposition from ethno-religious individuals and groups  in Nigeria. The frame  which newspapers gave to the issue is what this study seeks to unravel. The study employs the documentary methods of research in analyzing newspaper Framing of the RUGA Policy while Social Responsibility and Framing Theories underpins the same. Google search on newspaper articles on RUGA settlement was conducted using the online websites of The Punch, This Day, The Nation, The Tribune, Pulse Nigeria and Press Reader newspapers. The study  found that newspapers largely frame RUGA settlements using conflict and human interest frames. The study therefore recommends, amongst others that media organization should be socially responsible in framing their reports and stop exploiting the country’s fault lines for sensational reportage and circulation bait in order to ensure that they do not aid desperate forces to cause conflict among different ethno – religious, social and cultural gro ups in the country.