The federal government Thursday said there are plans to come up with an intervention to assist Nigeria’s media industry to ensure its sustainability.
It, however, pleaded with journalists to put the interest of the nation first in their line of duties, saying the media, like any other enterprise, can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and stability.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris stated this Thursday at the opening ceremony of the All Nigeria’s Editors Conference (ANEC) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.
At the well-attended event, the minister spoke in his official capacity as well as the representative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The conference theme was “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country.”
Before delivering the president’s message, the minister responded to pleas by the Founder/Publisher Vanguard Newspapers, Uncle Sam Amuka, on the need for government’s intervention to support the newspaper business in particular, and the media in general, in growing.
…Amuka’s remarks
Amuka, in his remarks, said: “The truth is that there is no business if there is no profit. In those days, you see vendors carrying newspapers, but nowadays, they don’t. All prices have gone up to the extent that publishing as we used to know it has died. Two years ago, a ton of newsprint was N6000, 000, but today, it’s N2 million. That means every day you publish, you lose. Publishing is essentially for the adverts. It is the advert that sustains the newspapers. Every business is affected by the pronouncement that the subsidy is gone.
“Our minister who has an unusual record for success has made Nigerians to now have respect for information coming from the ministry of information. We need the government’s involvement, we now want the government to come to the aide of the media. You need the media and the government should support the media.”
Adopting Amuka’s position, Chairman ThisDay Newspapers and Arise TV, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, said times were hard and journalists must work harder to ensure the survival of the media.
…Minister responds
Responding to the plethora of pleas from media owners, Idris said: “The president listens to you severally. He has called me on what should be done for the media as a form of intervention. Very soon, the president’s wish will be communicated.
“Again, I must appeal that we should be factual in our reportage. The media has a responsibility to project this country. You can criticise, but you must not lose sight that you must have a country first to operate as a media.”
…The president’s message
Delivering President Tinubu’s message, the minister saluted the media’s longstanding “legacy of deeply committed contributions to nation building. The democracy that we enjoy today would not be possible without the media. And I say this as someone who was privileged to be in the thick of the pro-democracy struggle, with a front-row view of how it played out.
“Indeed, in this room are many veteran journalists who played very important roles in ushering in the age of enduring democracy in Nigeria. I salute your individual and collective efforts not just at that time, but even right through to today, as we celebrate a quarter of a century of unbroken democratic experience.
“In any thriving democracy, the roles of the government and the media are intertwined, both essential in serving the public interest. And of course, the media has a duty to hold elected and appointed officials accountable, and ensure that we are doing our work in a manner that strengthens democracy – not weakens it. That important work must be done in a spirit of mutual respect and collaboration, not recrimination and opposition; this alignment enables us to achieve common goals that benefit society at large.
“Indeed, our roles are most effective when they are not adversarial but cooperative. By viewing each other as allies in nation-building, we can create an environment where transparency, accountability, and mutual respect thrive. Together, the government and the media can empower citizens, strengthen democratic institutions, and build a more informed and resilient society.
“As we gather to discuss a theme that is both timely and urgent, ‘Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country’, we find ourselves at a critical juncture in our nation’s journey toward sustainable growth and prosperity,” Tinubu added.
He further said: “Nigeria is richly endowed with human and natural resources that could place us among the world’s most prosperous nations. The age-old question, however, is: How do we translate these resources into meaningful growth and development?
“This is the question that I believe Nigerians elected me to answer decisively, eighteen months ago. And it is the question that has fueled my vision for a country that truly lives up to its full potential, that leaves none of its people behind in poverty and disease, and that is overwhelmingly respected on the global stage.
“The last eighteen months have been spent laying the foundation for this compelling vision of a prosperous Nigeria. That is what the Renewed Hope Agenda is all about – rekindling the faith and hope of all Nigerians in the ability of their country to flourish and to in turn provide an environment that allows everyone in it to flourish just as much.
“But we realise that there are some major obstacles standing in the way of the full unleashing of Nigeria’s abundant potentials. And we have spent time and energy and focus boldly tackling these.
“Two of the most significant are very well known to you: a ruinous fuel subsidy regime that deprived us of billions of dollars annually that could be going into investments in critical physical and social infrastructure, and a foreign exchange regime that was prone to unimaginable levels of arbitrage and abuse. Like the fuel subsidy, another needless drain on our limited national resources, and a cap on our ability as a nation to reach full potential.”
Highlighting the administration’s achievements, Tinubu said: “These and other fiscal and macroeconomic burdens have inspired us to undertake one of the boldest programs of economic reform in the history of Nigeria, with the goal of shifting from a consumption-based economy to a production-oriented one.
“I am pleased to let your know that through our sustained reforms, we are witnessing our economy gradually making a rebound on the most important foundational level. Today, our debt service to revenue ratio has come down drastically from almost 100% to about 65%.
“Similarly, the revenues accruing to the three tiers of Government: Federal, State and Local Government have grown exponentially with more funds going into the provision of social services and investment as well as the provision of infrastructure and social security.
“The local government autonomy granted by the Supreme Court based on the suit filed by the Federal Government was aimed at strengthening the governance structure at the local level as well as promoting grassroots development,” he further added.
…Diri espouses
Also in his remarks, Governor Douye Diri, while underscoring thesignificance of the media in democratic governance, said: “As ethnic nationalities and diverse interests vie for attention, your work serves as a beacon of hope, promoting understanding and unity. In these turbulent times around our nation and the world at large, your role as guardians of truth is more critical than ever.
“Integrity remains the cornerstone of your profession, building trust with the public and fortifying the foundations of a healthy democracy.”
While commending the theme of the conference, the governor said: “We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable development. Our nation brims with abundant resources, yet poverty and underdevelopment persist across countless communities; a striking paradox.
“In Bayelsa State for instance, a major contributor to Nigeria’s oil and gas production, we face severe environmental challenges and economic hardship. For long we have been ignored, our stories dismissed, and our rights trampled. Yet we have decided not to be silenced or erased. “The time is always right to do what is right,” said Martin Luther King Jr.
“Two recent events have strengthened my resolve to drive a thoughtful and intentional dialogue about responsible resource management in our country.”