By Sunday Stephen

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday pledged to review tariffs on newspaper and broadcasting materials, promising relief for Nigeria’s struggling media industry and calling for stronger collaboration between the press and government to drive national development.
The President made the pledge at the State House in Abuja while hosting leaders of the Nigerian media, including representatives of the Nigerian Press Organisation, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
President Tinubu commended media proprietors, editors and journalists for their enduring commitment to informing and educating Nigerians, while also providing employment to thousands across the country.
Reflecting on the economic challenges inherited by his administration, the President said responsible leadership requires making difficult decisions at the right time to steer the country away from collapse.
“Leadership must, as a matter of responsibility, make decisions at the best time,” Tinubu said. “I accepted the assets and liabilities of my predecessor because I applied for the job and was given the job. If anyone tells you it is easy, it is not true.”
He added that his administration had taken tough but necessary measures to rescue the country from economic turmoil.
“We had to save the nation and bring it back from the brink. Imagine a country owing airlines for ticket reimbursements while battling galloping exchange rates and inflation. Today, I can proudly say we are back from the brink,” the President stated.
Responding to concerns raised by media leaders about the burden of import tariffs on newsprint and broadcasting equipment, Tinubu assured them the issue would receive attention.
“We discussed the issue of tariffs this afternoon. If I missed taking action on matters affecting you, I will go back and rectify whatever is necessary,” he said.
The President also urged the media to continue playing its watchdog role by holding all levels of government accountable, noting that recent reforms by the Federal Government have increased financial allocations to states and local governments.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, praised the President’s resilience and leadership, expressing confidence that his policies would place Nigeria on the path of sustainable progress.
He also urged journalists to continue carrying out their constitutional duties responsibly while holding leaders accountable.
Veteran journalist and former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, who serves as Grand Patron of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, commended the administration’s economic reforms, describing them as bold steps toward rebuilding the nation’s economy.
Osoba highlighted key initiatives such as the creation of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the implementation of the National Single Window policy, noting that both measures could significantly boost government revenue.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Press Organisation, its president and publisher of BusinessDay newspapers, Frank Aigbogun, commended President Tinubu for maintaining a cordial relationship with the media.
He appealed to the Federal Government to review import tariffs on newsprint and broadcast equipment and to take steps to protect the Nigerian media industry from global tech companies that utilise editorial content from local publishers without compensation.
Aigbogun also urged the government to introduce policies that would help safeguard the jobs of journalists and sustain the nation’s media industry.
The meeting reinforced the longstanding partnership between the Nigerian government and the media, with both sides pledging greater cooperation in promoting transparency, accountability and national development.