President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to review tariffs on newspaper and broadcasting materials as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s media industry and enable it to perform its constitutional responsibilities more effectively.
The President made the commitment on Friday, 13th March, 2026 at the State House in Abuja while hosting the leadership of Nigeria’s media industry, including representatives of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He commended media owners, editors, and journalists for their commitment to informing and educating citizens, noting that the sector also provides livelihoods for thousands of Nigerians.
President Tinubu emphasised that leadership requires taking difficult decisions at the right time, acknowledging that his administration had to make tough choices to stabilise the nation’s economy.
“Leadership must, as a matter of responsibility, make decisions at the best time,” the President said. “Yes, I accepted my predecessor’s assets and liabilities because I applied for the job and was given the job. If anybody tells you it’s easy, it’s a lie.”
According to him, the reforms introduced by his administration were necessary to prevent the country from sliding into economic crisis.
“We had to save the nation and bring it back from the brink,” he said, citing issues such as outstanding airline ticket reimbursements, volatile exchange rates, and rising inflation.
“Today, I can stand proudly before you and say that we are back from the brink,” he added.
Responding to concerns raised by media stakeholders about tariffs on industry materials, Tinubu assured the delegation that the matter would be addressed.
“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,” he said.
The President also urged the media to intensify its role in demanding accountability from all levels of government, noting that ongoing federal reforms have increased resources available to state and local governments.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed confidence in the President’s leadership, describing him as resilient and visionary. He also encouraged journalists to continue holding governments accountable while carrying out their duties responsibly.
While speaking earlier, veteran journalist and Grand Patron of the NPAN, Olusegun Osoba, praised Tinubu for implementing bold economic policies aimed at transforming the country’s economy. He specifically highlighted the establishment of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the introduction of the National Single Window Policy as initiatives capable of boosting national revenue.
Chief Osoba also commended the President for urging state governors to utilise increased federal allocations to improve the welfare of citizens at the grassroots.
On behalf of the media delegation, President of the NPO and publisher of BusinessDay newspapers, Frank Aigbogun, acknowledged Tinubu’s longstanding relationship with the Nigerian media and appealed for government intervention on import tariffs affecting newsprint and broadcast equipment.
Aigbogun further called on the federal government to help protect jobs in the media industry from global technology companies that use editorial content sourced from Nigerian media organisations without adequate compensation.
The meeting underscored the need for closer collaboration between government and the media to strengthen democracy and drive national development.
