PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, yesterday, endorsed the plethora of requests made by the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, in a bid to rescue the distressed media sector in the country.
He also told the editors to exercise their gate-keeping role with patriotism and fairness, warning that irresponsible reporting and misinformation could undermine national cohesion and democratic stability.
President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba, had in his welcome address, raised alarm that the present economic realities in the country had put the media in distress.
Consequently, he urged the President to grant corporate tax relief for about ten years, Value Added Tax, VAT exemption, tax deductions, and give the media industry to access to affordable financing.
Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said without electoral integrity, there would be no democracy.
While declaring open the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference, ANEC, organised by the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Tinubu, in his response to the Guild’s requests, said: “I’ve listened to the request of 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.
“You know, I, as your President, endorse your proposal. Media and safety data will be out soon.”
He said jokingly, “your request is in my pocket.”
President Tinubu urged Nigerian editors to exercise their watchdog role with fairness and patriotism, saying criticism of government must not come at the expense of national unity or the country’s global image.
He also urged the editors to exercise their gate-keeping role with patriotism and fairness, warning that irresponsible reporting and misinformation could undermine national cohesion and democratic stability.
The President said he acknowledged the media’s historic role in national awakening and democratic resistance, but cautioned that cynicism and unverified claims now posed significant threats to national unity.
Tinubu recalled the outrage that greeted his early economic reforms, particularly foreign exchange liberalisation and removal of arbitrage, but maintained that the policies were necessary to curb corruption and lay the foundation for long-term economic recovery.
“When I assumed office and removed the arbitrage to stop corruption and strengthen the economy, you all dealt with me but today, we should celebrate that progress is being made. The days of darkness are ending; the economy is on the path to improvement.”
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring macroeconomic stability, attracting investment, and improving citizens’ well-being, even as the reforms remained demanding.
Tinubu applauded the Nigerian media’s courage during the military era, honouring journalists who endured intimidation, detention and hardship in defence of national ideals.
“Journalism in Nigeria has been more than a profession, it has been an instrument of national awakening. Their sacrifices form part of the foundation upon which our democracy rests,” he said.
The President, however, reminded editors that their decisions shaped national mood and perception, especially in an age where social media had quickened the spread of misinformation. He said:
“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.”
While noting that dissent was natural in a diverse country, Tinubu warned that disagreement must never erode national cohesion.
“Debate is part of our reality, but disagreement must never translate into weakening national unity. The national interest must be paramount,’’ he added.
On national security, the President acknowledged threats from terrorism and banditry but expressed confidence in ongoing efforts by security forces to check them.
“We are challenged by terrorism and banditry, but our forces are inspired. They put their lives on the line to defend our sovereignty,” he stated.
Tinubu urged editors to remain conscious of how they portrayed Nigeria to the global community, saying “this is our country, how we project Nigeria to the outside world matters. “Let us choose clarity over confusion, responsibility over recklessness, and hope over despair.”
Earlier in his welcome address, President of the NGE, Mr. Eze Anaba, raised concerns about the worsening financial state of the Nigerian media, warning that many organisations were on the brink of collapse due to soaring operational costs.
He noted that the price of a ton of newsprint had risen to between N1.3 million and N1.4 million, lasting only a few days.
According to him, this is a trend that has left newsrooms overwhelmed by rising production expenses.
“The media today is distressed. Many organisations simply cannot pay salaries, not because they are incompetent, but because the cost of production has become prohibitive,” he said.
Anaba warned that the inability of media houses to retain journalists was a threat to democratic accountability. “If the media cannot keep journalists employed, it cannot inform citizens; and without an informed citizenry, democracy is weakened,’’ he noted.
To save the industry, the Guild proposed five to ten year corporate tax relief for media companies; VAT exemptions on essential inputs; tax credits for corporations advertising in verified Nigerian outlets; and low-interest loan windows through the Bank of Industry and Development Bank of Nigeria to support equipment upgrades and digital migration. It also called for a Media Innovation Fund to support online platforms, data journalism and multimedia storytelling.
Anaba stressed that the proposed interventions were not acts of patronage but safeguards for democracy.
“When the press thrives, democracy breathes. When the press is stifled, democracy suffocates,” he said, urging the federal government to act swiftly.
The keynote speaker and governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, reminded the editors the providential words of Stephen Ward, a leading scholar of journalism ethics, who stated that “journalism objectivity is both an epistemic and an ethical principle.”
He said objectivity was not simply neutrality and not the mechanical transcription of events as if such transcription were even possible.
He also said editors would not be bystanders in the 2027 elections but catalysts whose narratives would shape the nation’s democratic future.
The governor said editors wielded immense influence in shaping national perception and must be accountable for the narratives they promote, particularly during election seasons.
“You are not spectators in 2027; you are catalysts. The narratives you shape will determine whether Nigerians see the elections through a tribal lens or a shared national destiny,” he said.
‘There won’t be electoral integrity without democracy’
Senator Uzodimma urged editors to take greater responsibility in protecting electoral integrity and restoring public confidence, ahead of the 2027 general elections. He said: “If you have a role in democratic governance and national cohesion, you must also assume responsibility for electoral integrity. Without electoral integrity, there can be no democracy.’’
He noted that media coverage of the 2023 elections contributed to public mistrust, with some reports portraying the electoral process as collapsed, based on selective or premature calls.
He cited the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, which found that 49 per cent of Nigerians distrust the media, describing the trend as “deeply alarming.”
He warned that editorial choices carried consequences: decisions on what to publish, which voices to prioritise, and how political events are framed directly affect national cohesion, voter confidence, and democratic resilience.
“When every disagreement is framed as a crisis and every electoral challenge treated as systemic fraud, you feed polarisation and deepen distrust,” he said.
Uzodimma called on editors to embrace an “objectivity of responsibility” anchored on accuracy, verification and context, rather than speed or sensationalism driven by commercial pressure.
“Let 2027 be the year the Nigerian media becomes architect of a shared democratic future,” he urged.
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, echoed the praise, noting that this was the first time a sitting President attended an NGE conference, calling it a”profound acknowledgment of the fourth estate.” Idris likened Tinubu’s political journey to the resilience of the Nigerian press, recalling how he resisted federal pressure as Lagos governor.
“Like the press under military dictatorship, President Tinubu resisted oppression. He understands that an independent media is not a foe of government but the foundation of a lasting democracy,” Idris said.
He also assured editors that the upcoming modernised tax regime was designed to strengthen infrastructure, education, and healthcare, adding that requests for media tax exemptions would be addressed in due course.
Highlighting the administration’s commitment to press freedom, the minister noted that no broadcast station had been shut down for critical reporting and pointed to UNESCO’s decision to grant Nigeria hosting rights for the global Media and Information Literacy Institute as proof of support.
He urged editors to act as partners in national renewal through responsible reporting: “The best editor is the one who knows what not to publish. Let us tell the Nigerian story with balance, truth, and an unshakable belief in our future. “The fourth estate has remained constant. Let it continue to stand strong in defence of the people,” Idris added. (VANGUARD)
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