Politics

Tinubu Moves to Cut Media Costs, Pledges Tariff Relief and Action on Big Tech

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 17th, 2026.

President Bola Tinubu has signaled plans to ease financial pressures on Nigeria’s media industry by reviewing import tariffs on critical production materials, including newsprint and broadcast equipment.

The commitment was made during a high-level engagement with leaders of the Nigerian Press Organisation(NPO) at the State House in Abuja, where the President hosted key stakeholders at an interfaith dinner. The meeting brought together prominent figures across print, broadcast, and digital media platforms.

According to a statement cited by The Guardian, Tinubu acknowledged the financial strain faced by media organisations and assured that the Federal Government is reviewing the current tariff regime affecting essential industry materials such as printing components and broadcasting tools.

“You have the government’s full support because of the vital role you play in sustaining democracy,” the President told the delegation, emphasizing the press as a critical partner in national development, economic stability, and social cohesion.

Industry leaders at the meeting included notable figures such as Maiden Alex-Ibru, veteran journalist Olusegun Osoba, and media entrepreneur Nduka Obaigbena, among others. Vice President Kashim Shettima and Information Minister Mohammed Idris were also in attendance.

Beyond tariff relief, Tinubu addressed concerns over what media stakeholders described as “digital cannibalisation” by global technology firms. He assured that his administration is engaging major tech companies to address issues of revenue loss and unfair competition.

According to The Punch, the NPO had earlier raised alarm over the impact of Big Tech platforms allegedly scraping proprietary content from local publishers to train artificial intelligence systems, often bypassing paywalls. The group claimed such practices have significantly eroded media revenues, with losses estimated to run into hundreds of millions of dollars.

In response, the President indicated that relevant regulatory bodies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, may be directed to collaborate with media organisations to investigate anti-competitive practices within the digital ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Information confirmed that discussions are already underway with global tech giants, including Meta and Google, to ensure fair value exchange within Nigeria’s digital economy.

Media executives welcomed the proposed tariff adjustments, noting that granting media materials a status similar to educational resources could significantly reduce operational costs and support industry sustainability.

The development marks a significant step in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s media landscape while addressing emerging challenges posed by digital disruption and global technology dominance.