…as Presidency promises tax reliefs, grants to rescue struggling media houses
By Austine Emmanuel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday challenged Nigerian editors to be bold, truthful critics while always prioritizing the national interest and the integrity of public conversation.
Addressing over 400 editors and media executives at the 21st All-Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) in Abuja, the President affirmed that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy rests on a free and responsible press.
President Tinubu recalled the intense media scrutiny his administration faced over the initial economic reforms, specifically the removal of the fuel subsidy and the exchange rate unification.
“When I look back at the time I first announced the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate and the way many of you in the media dealt with me then, I can only smile today,” Tinubu stated. He defended the measures as necessary to rescue the economy from deep-seated corruption and inefficiency, claiming, “Today, we can say the tunnel of darkness is beginning to show light.”
In a move welcomed by the struggling industry, the President announced plans to introduce policy incentives to safeguard media sustainability.
He said he has endorsed proposals for corporate tax reliefs, VAT exemptions for media services, Development grants for digital transformation and
access to single-digit loans.
The three-day conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” focused heavily on the media’s duty in a fragile democracy.
Keynote speaker and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, described the media as the “last man standing” in the defense of democracy and accountability.
However, Uzodinma warned that sensational and divisive headlines erode public trust, citing a Barometer survey that showed only 51% of Nigerians trust the media.
He stressed that “Electoral integrity begins with editorial integrity,” cautioning editors against coverage that leads citizens to believe elections are fundamentally rigged.
Uzodinma urged journalists to embrace patriotism, noting, “division may sell papers, but it destroys nations.”
President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, used his platform to highlight the existential threat facing the industry.
He reported that the cost of a ton of newsprint now ranges between ₦1.3 million and ₦1.4 million, driving many media houses to the brink of collapse and making their constitutional duty “impossible.”
Anaba appealed for targeted fiscal interventions to preserve existing media jobs, urging editors to continue their role as “constructive partners in nation-building” by holding power to account and defending the sanctity of truth.
Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, hailed the President’s attendance as a historic milestone and a “powerful testament” to the administration’s respect for the Fourth Estate.
He also announced that Nigeria secured the hosting rights for the first-ever UNESCO International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja, signaling global recognition of the country’s commitment to press freedom.
The conference concluded its opening session with optimism, as participants expressed hope that the President’s pledges would renew industry sustainability and strengthen journalism’s role ahead of the 2027 general elections.
