President Bola Tinubu on Friday signalled possible relief for Nigeria’s struggling media industry, promising to review tariffs on newsprint and broadcasting equipment after meeting with top media executives at the State House in Abuja.
The assurance came during a high-level engagement between the President and leaders of the Nigerian Press Organisation, alongside representatives of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Media leaders used the meeting to highlight the mounting financial pressures confronting the industry, particularly high import tariffs on newsprint and broadcast equipment, which they warned are threatening the sustainability of media organisations and the jobs of journalists across the country.
Responding, Tinubu acknowledged the concerns and assured the delegation that the federal government would revisit the issue.
“We discussed issues of tariffs this afternoon. What I cannot report back here is whether I took action in the areas that affect you. But if I missed that, I will go back to rectifying whatever was necessary,” the President said.
Tinubu also defended the difficult economic decisions taken by his administration since assuming office, noting that the policies were necessary to stabilise Nigeria’s finances.
According to him, leadership requires making hard choices at critical moments, even when such decisions attract public criticism.
“Leadership must, as a matter of responsibility, make decisions at the best time. Yes, I accepted my predecessor’s assets and liabilities because I applied for the job and was given the job. But if anybody tells you it is easy, it is a lie,” he said.
The President admitted that his administration faced severe economic challenges at the outset, including mounting debts and economic instability.
“Can you imagine a nation that owes airlines for ticket reimbursements and faces galloping exchange rates and inflation? Today, I can stand proudly before you and say that we are back from the brink,” Tinubu added.
He commended journalists and media organisations for their role in informing the public and strengthening democratic governance, saying their criticisms had helped sharpen government policies.
“I thank you for your criticism at the beginning of the administration. You challenged me,” he said.
Tinubu also urged the media to extend its scrutiny beyond the federal government to states and local governments, noting that recent reforms had increased financial allocations to the subnational level.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi described the meeting as a demonstration of the President’s commitment to engaging the media, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s ability to steer the country toward sustainable progress.
Veteran journalist and former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba, who serves as Grand Patron of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, praised the administration for implementing bold economic reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s revenue base.
Osoba cited the creation of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the introduction of the National Single Window as key initiatives capable of boosting government revenue.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Press Organisation, its president and publisher of BusinessDay newspapers, Frank Aigbogun, urged the federal government to urgently address the tariff burden on media inputs.
He also raised concerns about the growing influence of global technology companies that use editorial content produced by Nigerian media organisations without compensation, warning that the trend could further weaken the industry.
The meeting highlighted growing concerns about the financial sustainability of Nigeria’s media sector, with industry leaders calling for policy interventions to safeguard journalism and preserve thousands of jobs tied to the profession.
