President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ (NGE) proposal seeking sweeping tax reliefs and VAT exemptions to rescue the nation’s cash-strapped media sector. His backing, announced during the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2025), offers hope for an industry battling rising production costs, shrinking revenues, and delayed salaries.
Key Highlights:
- Tinubu pledges corporate tax relief and VAT exemptions for Nigerian media organisations
- Guild of Editors warns that rising costs threaten press freedom and democracy
- President backs creation of Media Innovation Fund, low-interest loans, and repeal of restrictive laws
- Over 400 media executives attend historic 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference at the Presidential Villa
The conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” gathered over 400 senior journalists, publishers, and broadcasters at the State House Banquet Hall the first time a sitting Nigerian president has attended the annual event.
NGE President Eze Anaba warned that escalating newsprint prices, now at ₦1.3 million to ₦1.4 million per tonne, had pushed many media houses to the brink. “The media today is distressed,” he said. “If the media cannot keep journalists employed, it cannot inform citizens, and without an informed citizenry, democracy weakens.”
In a lighthearted but firm response, President Tinubu assured editors that their five-point proposal “is in my pocket.” He endorsed corporate tax relief for five to ten years, VAT exemptions on newsprint and broadcasting equipment, tax incentives for advertisers supporting Nigerian media, and low-interest loans through the Bank of Industry and Development Bank of Nigeria. He also supported the establishment of a Media Innovation Fund to aid digital transformation and data-driven reporting.
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Defending his economic reforms, the president said the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange adjustments were essential for long-term stability. “When I stopped the arbitrage to end corruption, you all dealt with me,” he said. “But today, we are beginning to see progress. The days of darkness are ending.”
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, the keynote speaker, called on editors to guard electoral integrity and resist sensational reporting that fuels distrust. “If you claim a role in democratic governance, you must uphold truth as the foundation of national cohesion,” he stated.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris highlighted that no media outlet had been shut down under Tinubu’s administration, adding that Nigeria would host a UNESCO-backed Media and Information Literacy Institute in 2026.
Anaba reaffirmed that the NGE’s demands were not about privilege but preservation. “When the press thrives, democracy breathes. When the press is stifled, democracy suffocates,” he declared.
With discussions continuing at the NAF Conference Centre, participants described Tinubu’s commitments as a potential turning point. If implemented, the measures could restore newsroom stability, encourage responsible journalism, and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic watchdog.
