By Charles Pemu 
President Bola Tinubu yesterday threw his weight behind the extensive requests made by the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), endorsing a plan to rescue the country’s media sector which has been pushed into “distress” by harsh economic realities.
Speaking at the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) held at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu, in response to the NGE’s President, Mr. Eze Anaba, affirmed his support for the demands aimed at saving the industry from collapse.
“I’ve listened to the request of the President of the Guild – corporate tax relief, VAT exemption for media, tax break, affordable loans from BoI (Bank of Industry), establishment of development grants for digitisation, repeal laws that inhibit press freedom, discuss it now,” President Tinubu stated. “You know, I, as your President, endorse your proposal. Media and safety data will be out soon.”
He light-heartedly assured the editors, saying, “your request is in my pocket,” signaling his commitment to addressing the financial and legal hurdles facing the press.
Earlier, NGE President Eze Anaba had raised an alarm over the worsening financial state of the Nigerian media. He revealed that the cost of a ton of newsprint had surged to between ₦1.3 million and ₦1.4 million, making production costs prohibitive and pushing many organisations to the brink of collapse.
Anaba warned that the inability of media houses to retain journalists was a direct threat to democratic accountability. The Guild’s proposed solutions included five to ten year corporate tax relief, VAT exemptions on essential inputs, tax credits, and low-interest loans through the Bank of Industry (BoI) and Development Bank of Nigeria to support equipment upgrades and digital migration.
The President’s Charge: Patriotic Gatekeeping
While committing to the financial rescue, President Tinubu urged Nigerian editors to exercise their watchdog role with fairness and patriotism. He warned that irresponsible reporting and misinformation could undermine national cohesion and democratic stability.
Acknowledging the media’s historic role in democratic resistance, Tinubu cautioned that criticism of government policy must be based on “knowledge and fairness,” and must not come at the expense of national unity or the country’s global image.
“Verification must be your anchor. Balance must be your principle. Criticise government policy, but do so with knowledge and fairness. Let your aim be to help build, not destroy,” the President admonished.
He reiterated that the controversial economic reforms, such as foreign exchange liberalisation, were necessary to curb corruption, assuring the editors that “the days of darkness are ending; the economy is on the path to improvement.”
Uzodimma Warns Against Being ‘Spectators’ in 2027
Meanwhile, the keynote speaker and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, charged editors not to be “bystanders in 2027” but catalysts whose narratives must shape the nation’s democratic future.
Uzodimma noted that media coverage of the 2023 elections contributed to public mistrust and urged editors to take greater responsibility in protecting electoral integrity. He warned against feeding polarization by framing every disagreement as a crisis, calling for an “objectivity of responsibility” anchored on accuracy and context.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, applauded the President’s attendance as a “profound acknowledgment” of the fourth estate and assured editors that their tax requests would be addressed in the upcoming modernised tax regime.