President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed government backing for the Nigerian media’s evidence-led push against Big Tech’s anti-competitive practices, content scraping for AI, and economic pressures like high tariffs threatening press survival.
Speaking at an interfaith dinner with the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) delegation at the State House on Friday, Tinubu called the press an “indispensable partner” in fostering economic stability, press freedom, and social cohesion.
He promised to tackle “digital cannibalisation” and review the tariff exemption list to zero-rate media essentials like newsprint, plates, chemicals, and broadcast equipment—currently hit with 5-10% duties—mirroring exemptions for educational materials.
“You have the government’s full support, because we know how important your work is to the sustenance of democracy,” Tinubu assured leaders including NPO President Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, Aremo Olusegun Osoba (Vanguard), Sam Amuka (THISDAY/ARISE), Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Dr John Momoh (Channels TV), and heads of NPAN, NGE, GOCOP, NUJ, and NTA.
NPAN Deputy President Frank Aigbogun, speaking for NPO, accused Big Tech firms like Meta and Google of breaching paywalls to train AI models, costing local media 70% of revenue—hundreds of millions of dollars—plus jobs. He urged directing the FCCPC to probe these issues.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris noted ongoing government engagement with Big Tech: “We will not allow anybody to come here, reap from our economy, and go away without giving back.” Vice President Kashim Shettima and senior aides attended.
The pledge follows NPO’s January letter highlighting existential threats from Big Tech to Nigerian media.
