President Tinubu Promises Review of Tariffs Affecting Media Businesses

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to urgently examine and address tariffs imposed on newspaper production and broadcasting materials, aiming to strengthen the media industry’s capacity to fulfil its constitutional duties effectively.

The President made the commitment during a high-level meeting at the State House with leaders of major media bodies, including 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.

Tinubu praised the media for its dedication to informing and educating citizens, creating jobs, and sustaining livelihoods for thousands of Nigerians.

He described responsible leadership as the courage to make tough but timely decisions, reflecting on the critical reforms his administration implemented to rescue the country from near-bankruptcy.

“Leadership must make decisions at the best time. I accepted the assets and liabilities of my predecessor because I asked for the job. It wasn’t easy—anyone who says otherwise is not telling the truth,” he said.

“We had to save the nation from the brink. Today, I can proudly say we are back from the edge.”

Addressing the media’s concerns over tariffs, the President stated:

“We discussed issues of tariffs this afternoon. What I cannot report back here is whether I took action… But if I missed that, I will go back to rectifying whatever was necessary.”

He thanked the press for its early criticisms, which he said challenged and inspired him, and reaffirmed his commitment to constructive engagement.

As a regular reader of Nigerian newspapers, he welcomed all feedback in good faith, stressing that everyone shares the goal of building a better nation.

The President urged the media to extend its watchdog role to state and local governments, noting that federal reforms have unlocked more resources for the federating units to deliver development and accountability.

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris hailed President Tinubu’s resilience and visionary leadership, assuring him of the media’s high expectations for continued progress.

Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Grand Patron of NPAN, commended the President’s bold economic policies, particularly the establishment of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the National Single Window initiative, both poised to significantly boost national revenue.

The meeting underscored renewed collaboration between the federal government and the media sector, with promises of policy relief to support a vibrant, independent press in service of Nigeria’s development agenda.