President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged that his Administration will support Nigerian media organisations in their efforts to get fair compensation from big technology companies and digital platforms for using and distributing their content. The President also promised to address some of the challenges facing the industry, including by exempting some media consumables from import tariffs.
This pledge was made known in a statement signed by Mr Segun Adediran, the Chief Executive Officer of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
The President described the media as an important partner in promoting economic stability, press freedom, and national unity.
Speaking during a meeting at the State House with members of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), President Tinubu said his administration would work to remove financial and digital challenges affecting the media.
He gave this assurance at an interfaith dinner attended by top media leaders, including NPO President and publisher of The Guardian newspapers, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru.
The delegation also included industry leaders and patrons, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Mr Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard newspapers; Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE News Channel; Dr John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Television; Alhaji Saliu Abdulhamid Dembos, Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA); Mr Ray Ekpu, former NPAN President and veteran journalist; Mr Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); Mr Danlami Nmodu, President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP); and Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.
Tinubu also said the government was reviewing import tariffs and may include media materials such as newsprint, printing plates, chemicals, and broadcast equipment in the exemption list. These items currently attract 5 to 10 percent tariffs but could soon be treated like educational and research materials. With rising costs affecting the media industry, the President said the government is ready to step in and provide support. “You have the government’s full support, because we know how important your work is to democracy,” he said.
Earlier, Deputy President of NPAN and BusinessDay publisher, Mr Frank Aigbogun, accused some tech companies of using media content without permission to train artificial intelligence systems, sometimes bypassing paywalls.
Mr Aigbogun called on the government to direct the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate claims that Big Tech practices are costing Nigerian media up to 70 percent of their revenue, leading to major financial losses and job cuts.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, in his contribution said the government has already started engaging major tech companies such as Meta and Google.
He added that the government will ensure that companies benefiting from Nigeria’s economy also give back to the country.
The meeting was also attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, along with senior government officials and media executives.
