Media Owners Seek Tinubu’s Protection Against Big Tech Exploitation

Nigerian media proprietors have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protect the nation’s journalism industry from what they described as growing exploitation by global technology companies profiting from locally generated editorial content without compensation.

The appeal was made Friday during a meeting between President Tinubu and leaders of major media organisations at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The gathering brought together representatives of the Nigerian Press Organisation, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Speaking on behalf of the media owners, President of the Nigerian Press Organisation and publisher of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun, urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to safeguard journalism jobs threatened by digital platforms that use media content without adequate remuneration.

Aigbogun also called for a reduction in import tariffs on newsprint and broadcast equipment, noting that rising production costs and unregulated digital competition are putting serious pressure on the survival of media organisations in the country.

Responding, President Tinubu acknowledged the strategic role of the media in nation-building and assured stakeholders that government would look into the tariff concerns raised.

“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 rectify whatever is necessary,” the President said.

Tinubu commended journalists, editors and media proprietors for their role in informing citizens and sustaining employment across the country.

He also urged the media to intensify scrutiny of state and local governments, stressing that recent economic reforms have increased financial allocations to subnational governments.

Defending key economic decisions of his administration, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation, Tinubu said the measures were necessary to stabilise the economy.

According to him, “Leadership requires difficult decisions. We had to save the nation and pull it back from the brink. Today, I can proudly say Nigeria is recovering.”

Also speaking, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, assured that government remains committed to addressing challenges confronting the media industry.

He urged journalists to continue holding all levels of government accountable in line with their constitutional responsibility.

Former governor of Ogun State and elder statesman, Olusegun Osoba, who attended the meeting, commended Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying initiatives such as the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service and the National Single Window policy could strengthen national revenue generation.