Tinubu urged to safe Nigeria from Big Tech media owners
By Omolade Adegbuyi
Nigerian media owners have called on President Bola Tinubu to protect journalism from exploitation by global technology giants.
The global media giants are accused of exploiting Nigerian editorial content without paying compensation.
The appeal came on Friday when President Tinubu hosted the leadership of the Nigerian media at the State House, Abuja, in a meeting that brought together the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the NPO, its President and BusinessDay publisher, Mr Frank Aigbogun, urged the Federal Government to intervene and shield Nigerian journalism jobs from the growing threat posed by Big Tech companies that freely use editorial content produced by locals without remuneration.
Aigbogun also urged the government to reduce import tariffs on newsprint and broadcast equipment, arguing that the burden of high input costs and unregulated digital competition was threatening the survival of the Nigerian media industry.
Tinubu, in response, acknowledged the role of the media in national development and pledged to act on the tariff issue.
We discussed issues of tariffs this afternoon. What I cannot report back here is whether I took action in the areas that affect you. But if I missed that, I will go back to rectifying whatever was necessary,” said Tinubu.
The president commended media owners, editors, and journalists for their commitment to informing and educating citizens, as well as providing employment for thousands of Nigerians.
He urged the press to extend its accountability mandate beyond the federal government, noting that his administration’s economic reforms had made more funds available to state and local governments.
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