President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured media proprietors and practitioners of his administration’s readiness to review import tariffs on newspaper and broadcasting materials, even as he declared that Nigeria has been pulled “back from the brink” of economic collapse.
The President gave the commitment on Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian media at the State House, Abuja.
The delegation comprised members of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors, and Nigerian Union of Journalists, among others.
Speaking on the requests for intervention regarding tariffs affecting the media industry, President Tinubu acknowledged the concerns raised and promised to take necessary action.
“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.
The promise came in response to an appeal by Mr Frank Aigbogun, publisher of BusinessDay newspapers and president of the Nigerian Press Organisation, who specifically sought the President’s intervention on import duties for newsprint and broadcast equipment.
Aigbogun also called on the federal government to protect the jobs of Nigerian journalists and the industry from big tech companies that use editorial content from Nigerian media without compensation.
Reflecting on the state of the nation, President Tinubu declared that his administration’s tough decisions had rescued the country from potential bankruptcy, despite initial criticisms.
“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. So I have to do it. But if anybody tells you it’s easy, it’s a lie,” he stated.
“I thank you for your criticism at the beginning of the administration. You challenged me. Thank you for inspiring and challenging me at a critical moment in my life. But having asked for the job and got it, I can’t look back other than to make corrections as I move along. We had to save the nation and bring it back from the brink. 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.”
The President commended the media for its constructive remarks and criticisms, describing himself as an ardent reader of Nigerian newspapers who accepts feedback in good faith because “all of us want the best for this nation.”
He also reiterated his call for the media to extend its watchdog role to state and local governments, noting that reform policies have made more funds available to federating units.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed confidence in the President’s leadership, assuring him that the Nigerian media have high expectations for his administration’s ability to steer the nation toward lasting progress.
Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Grand Patron of the NPAN, commended the President for transformative policies including the establishment of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the National Single Window policy, which he said are capable of increasing the nation’s revenue profile.
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