President Tinubu Pledges Government Support for Media Industry
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared his administration's full backing for the Nigerian media's evidence-led campaign against Big Tech dominance, anti-competitive activities, and the severe economic challenges impacting local media outlets. He emphasized the press's role as an "indispensable partner" in the nation's pursuit of economic stability, press freedom, and social cohesion.
Commitment to Dismantle Fiscal and Digital Hurdles
During a high-profile interfaith dinner at the State House on Friday, President Tinubu assured that his government would assist in removing fiscal obstacles and addressing what he termed "digital cannibalisation" that currently threatens the survival of the press. This assurance was given to a delegation from the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), led by its President and Publisher of The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru.
The delegation included prominent industry figures such as Aremo Olusegun Osoba, publisher of Vanguard; Mr. Sam Amuka, Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE News Channel; Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Dr. John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Television; Alhaji Saliu Abdulhamid Dembos, Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA); veteran journalist Mr. Ray Ekpu; Mr. Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; Mr. Danlami Nmodu, President of the online publishers' association; and Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, among others.
Tariff Exemption Review for Media Materials
President Tinubu revealed that his government is actively reviewing the tariff exemption list and is considering including items crucial to media operations. These items, which currently face tariffs of 5 to 10 percent, include newsprint, plates, chemicals, and radio and television broadcast equipment. If approved, these materials would receive a status similar to that of educational and research materials, providing much-needed relief to an industry grappling with skyrocketing costs.
"You have the government's full support, because we know how important your work is to the sustenance of democracy," the President stated, signaling his administration's readiness to intervene in the media's financial struggles.
Media's Accusations Against Big Tech
Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Deputy President of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Publisher of BusinessDay, delivered a speech on behalf of the NPO. He accused certain tech companies of "scraping" proprietary creative content to train AI models, often by bypassing digital paywalls.
Aigbogun urged President Tinubu to direct the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to collaborate with the media in investigating complaints. He highlighted that Big Tech dominance and anti-competitive practices are estimated to cost local media at least 70 percent of their legitimate income, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, alongside significant job and opportunity losses.
Government's Ongoing Engagement with Big Tech
Prior to the President's response, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, noted that the government has already initiated engagements with Big Tech companies, including Meta and Google. "The government will not allow anybody to come here, reap from our economy, and go away without giving back," he asserted, underscoring the administration's commitment to ensuring fair contributions from these global entities.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, senior aides, and special advisers to President Tinubu, reflecting the high-level importance placed on this issue. This gathering follows the NPO's January letter and public statement warning of the existential threat posed by Big Tech operations to local media.
