President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday pledged to address tariffs on newspaper and broadcasting materials in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s media industry and enabling it to effectively perform its constitutional responsibilities.
The President made the commitment at the State House while hosting leaders of the Nigerian media, including representatives of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
President Tinubu commended media owners, editors and journalists for their dedication to informing and educating the public, noting that the industry also provides employment and livelihoods for thousands of Nigerians.
Speaking on leadership and governance, the President stressed that responsible leadership requires making difficult but necessary decisions at the appropriate time. He acknowledged that his administration had taken tough measures to stabilise the nation’s economy and prevent financial collapse.
According to him, accepting the assets and liabilities inherited from the previous administration was part of the responsibility that came with the office.
Tinubu said although the decisions taken by his government were not easy, they were necessary to pull the country back from the brink of economic instability marked by mounting obligations, volatile exchange rates and rising inflation.
He added that the country has begun to recover, expressing confidence that the reforms undertaken by his administration are yielding positive results.
On the issue of tariffs affecting the media sector, the President assured stakeholders that their concerns had been noted and promised to review them where necessary.
He also appreciated the media for its constructive criticism and engagement, noting that as an avid reader of Nigerian newspapers, he welcomes differing opinions in the collective effort to move the country forward.
President Tinubu further urged the media to extend its watchdog role to other levels of government, particularly as recent federal reforms have increased financial allocations to states and local governments.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed confidence in the President’s resilience and leadership, stating that the Nigerian media remains hopeful that the administration will guide the nation toward sustained development.
He encouraged journalists to continue to carry out their constitutional duties responsibly while holding leaders at all levels accountable.
Also speaking, former Ogun State governor and Grand Patron of NPAN, Olusegun Osoba, praised the administration’s reform initiatives, describing them as bold steps capable of repositioning Nigeria’s economy. He highlighted the establishment of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the implementation of the National Single Window Policy as key reforms expected to boost national revenue.
Osoba also commended the President for urging state governors to ensure that increased federal allocations are utilised to improve the welfare of citizens at the grassroots.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Press Organisation, its President and publisher of BusinessDay Media Limited, Frank Aigbogun, applauded Tinubu for sustaining a cordial relationship with the media. He appealed for presidential intervention on import tariffs on newsprint and broadcasting equipment.
Aigbogun also urged the Federal Government to protect the Nigerian media industry from the growing influence of global technology companies that utilise editorial content from local media organisations without compensation, warning that the practice threatens the sustainability of journalism and jobs in the sector.
The meeting reinforced the longstanding engagement between the presidency and the media, with stakeholders emphasising the importance of collaboration in strengthening democracy and national development.
