President Bola Tinubu has officially pledged that the Federal Government will review and potentially remove tariffs on critical media production materials.
This is in effort to rescue Nigeria’s press from a dual crisis of soaring operational costs and revenue loss to global technology giants.
The President made this commitment during an inter-faith dinner hosted for media executives at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, March 13, 2026.
He described the press as an “indispensable partner” in Nigeria’s journey toward economic stability and democratic accountability.
Nigerian media houses have long complained about high import duties on essential materials, including newsprint, printing plates, chemicals, and radio/television broadcasting equipment.
These items currently attract tariffs ranging from 5% to 10%, which media owners say have become unsustainable due to the fluctuating exchange rate.
During the engagement, the President revealed that a review of the national tariff exemption list is already underway.
He hinted that media materials could soon be reclassified to enjoy a status similar to that of educational and research materials.
“We discussed issues of tariffs this afternoon,” President Tinubu told the delegation.
“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 to ensure fairness.”
The Fight Against Big Tech “Scraping”
Beyond physical costs, the President addressed a newer, more existential threat: the uncompensated use of local news content by global technology companies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models.
The President of the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO) and Publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun, raised alarms about “digital cannibalisation.”
He accused Big Tech firms of “scraping” proprietary editorial content from Nigerian newspapers to train AI models without paying the original creators.
Stakeholders estimate these practices cost local media outlets up to 70% of their potential revenue.
In response, President Tinubu vowed to support the media’s campaign for fair compensation. “You have the government’s full support, because we know how important your work is to the sustenance of democracy,” he assured the group.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, added that the government has already begun direct engagements with Google and Meta to ensure a fairer digital ecosystem.
A Call for Grassroots Accountability
While offering support, the President challenged the media to expand their “watchdog” role beyond the Federal Government.
He noted that recent reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, have significantly increased the funds available to states and local governments.
“Don’t bombard me alone; look out to the local government too,” Tinubu urged.
He reminded editors that local governments now receive their allocations directly, and it is the media’s duty to ensure these resources reach the grassroots.
The meeting was attended by veterans of the industry, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Sam Amuka (Vanguard), Prince Nduka Obaigbena (THISDAY/Arise), and Dr. John Momoh (Channels TV).
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
