President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting Nigerian media organisations in their push for fair revenue from global technology companies dominating the digital space.
The president made the pledge during an interfaith dinner in Abuja with members of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), according to a statement released by Segun Adediran, Chief Executive Officer of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
Tinubu described the Nigerian press as a crucial partner in strengthening democracy, promoting economic stability and fostering national unity.
The delegation to the meeting was led by the President of the NPO and publisher of The Guardian, Maiden Alex-Ibru, alongside several influential figures in Nigeria’s media sector.
Among those present were media veteran Sam Amuka-Pemu of Vanguard, publisher of ThisDay and founder of Arise News Nduka Obaigbena, former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba, and Chairman of Channels Television, John Momoh.
Tinubu noted that the government was working to remove financial barriers affecting media operations, including what industry leaders describe as “digital cannibalisation,” where global tech platforms generate value from news content produced by local publishers without adequate compensation.
He revealed that the Federal Government is reviewing the country’s tariff exemption policy and may extend the benefits to essential materials used by media organisations.
Such items include newsprint, printing plates, chemicals and broadcasting equipment used by radio and television stations.
If approved, these materials could enjoy tariff exemptions similar to those granted to educational and research resources.
Earlier, Deputy President of NPAN and publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun, raised concerns about the growing influence of global technology firms on Nigeria’s media industry.
Aigbogun alleged that some tech companies collect and use copyrighted media content to train artificial intelligence systems, sometimes bypassing digital paywalls designed to protect publishers’ revenue.
He called on the government to mandate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate alleged anti-competitive behaviour by major technology firms.
According to him, these practices may be costing Nigerian media organisations up to 70 percent of their potential income, which industry estimates place at hundreds of millions of dollars.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that the government had already initiated discussions with global tech companies such as Meta and Google.
Idris stressed that companies operating within Nigeria’s digital economy must contribute fairly to the country’s economic ecosystem.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima as well as several senior presidential aides.
Earlier this year, the Nigerian Press Organisation warned that the dominance of major technology platforms poses a serious threat to the sustainability of local media businesses.
