Media Stakeholders Appeal to President Tinubu for Support Amid Economic Struggles

• Media owners urge President Tinubu to address economic hardships in the media industry, highlighting rising costs and operational constraints
• Editors emphasize the need for government support to ensure media sustainability, as newsprint costs have surged dramatically over two years

Media owners and editors in Nigeria have called on President Bola Tinubu to address the economic hardships facing the country’s media industry. This appeal was made during the All Nigerian Editors Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday.

The conference, themed “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country,” gathered publishers, editors, and media professionals to discuss escalating costs and operational constraints threatening the industry’s sustainability.

Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), highlighted that a scarcity of essential materials, such as newsprint and broadcasting resources, poses a significant obstacle.

He noted that media outlets face mounting challenges in adapting to digital trends while remaining financially viable. “The biggest threat to media survival today is the availability of resource materials,” Anaba stated, urging the government to follow through on promises to alleviate the industry’s financial burdens.

Prince Nduka Obaigbena, chairman of the conference and publisher of Thisday and Arise Television, expressed cautious optimism about Nigeria’s economic reforms but stressed that these reforms should prioritize vulnerable sectors, including the media, which plays a crucial role in supporting democracy.

Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, shared the stark reality of the rising costs, particularly for newsprint, which has surged from N600,000 to over N2 million within two years. “Every day we publish a hardcopy newspaper, we lose money,” he remarked, underscoring the need for government support to keep print journalism afloat.

Representing President Tinubu, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris recognized the media’s vital role in shaping public perception and contributing to national development.

In his message, Tinubu urged media professionals to uphold integrity and factual reporting, emphasizing that a robust and ethical media industry is essential for a strong democracy.