Tinubu Backs Editors’ Demands, Promises Support for Nigeria’s Ailing Media Sector

President Bola Tinubu has endorsed a list of requests made by the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) aimed at rescuing the struggling media industry from economic hardship. Speaking at the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu assured editors that he would act on their proposals, which include corporate tax reliefs, VAT exemptions, and access to low-interest financing.

“I’ve listened to your requests — tax relief, VAT exemption, affordable loans, and support for digitisation. You know, as your President, I endorse your proposals,” Tinubu said to the applause of editors. In a lighter tone, he added, “Your request is in my pocket.”

The President urged journalists to carry out their watchdog role with fairness and patriotism, warning that misinformation and sensational reporting could threaten national unity. “Criticise government policies, but do so with knowledge and fairness. Let your aim be to help build, not destroy,” he cautioned.

Tinubu acknowledged that his early economic reforms — such as foreign exchange liberalisation and removal of fuel subsidies — drew public outrage but maintained that they were necessary for long-term stability. “When I assumed office and removed arbitrage to stop corruption and strengthen the economy, you all dealt with me,” he joked, “but today, we should celebrate that progress is being made.”

Reaffirming his commitment to macroeconomic stability and citizens’ welfare, Tinubu praised the courage of Nigerian journalists who resisted military rule and defended democracy. “Journalism in Nigeria has been more than a profession; it has been an instrument of national awakening,” he said.

In his address, Eze Anaba, President of the NGE, painted a grim picture of the media’s financial struggles, revealing that newsprint costs now range between ₦1.3 million and ₦1.4 million per ton, making it difficult for many newsrooms to survive. “The media today is distressed. Many organisations can’t pay salaries — not for lack of competence, but because the cost of production is unbearable,” he lamented.

Anaba warned that a collapsing media industry would directly harm Nigeria’s democracy. “If the press cannot employ journalists, it cannot inform citizens — and without an informed citizenry, democracy weakens,” he said.

To save the industry, the NGE proposed 5–10 years of tax reliefs, VAT exemptions, loan access from the Bank of Industry, and the creation of a Media Innovation Fund to support digital journalism and equipment upgrades.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who delivered the keynote address, reminded editors of their powerful influence ahead of the 2027 elections. “You are not spectators in 2027; you are catalysts. The narratives you shape will determine whether Nigerians see the elections through a tribal lens or a shared national destiny,” he said.

Uzodimma emphasised that without electoral integrity, democracy could not survive. He urged editors to focus on accuracy, verification, and context rather than sensationalism driven by commercial pressures. “When every disagreement is framed as a crisis, you deepen distrust,” he warned.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, praised Tinubu for being the first sitting President to attend an NGE conference, describing it as “a profound acknowledgment of the fourth estate.”

Idris assured journalists that the government was committed to press freedom and noted that no media outlet had been shut down for critical reporting under Tinubu’s administration. “Like the press under dictatorship, President Tinubu resisted oppression. He knows that an independent media is not the enemy of government but the foundation of democracy,” the minister said.

He also called on editors to embrace responsible journalism: “The best editor is the one who knows what not to publish. Let us tell the Nigerian story with balance, truth, and an unshakable belief in our future.”