…as NGE urges FG to save newspaper from newsprint cartel
The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has assured the media of his support in addressing the incessant rising cost of newsprint in the country.
This is as the Nigerian Guild of Editors pleaded with the federal government to save the newspaper industry from total collapse as a result of cartels running the newsprint.
The duo spoke on Thursday, October 3, in Abuja at the first international conference organized by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) themed “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024); Dissecting Nigeria’s challenges, genesis, impacts and options.”
Adeniyi, who was responding to an earlier appeal made by the president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, said he would be discussing the issue with other stakeholders to see how the print newspaper industry can be protected.
He said: “We will see what we can do to rescue the newspaper industry from the clutches of those who have created cartel in distress. It’s not going to be difficult for us to make importation of newsprint zero rated we can pay zero duty on it.”
He said he would be discussing the issue with the minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy and other stakeholders to see how they can come in to save the newspaper industry.
NGE President and also Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Eze Anaba, said the cartel is strangulating the newspaper industry as they increase the price of newsprint at the slightest opportunity.
Anaba said should the trend be allowed to continue, there would be no print newspaper again in the country.
He added: “The newspaper industry will die if nothing is done, this scenario has produced a very dangerous cartel. The cartel is very destructive. If we don’t buy from them you will not publish and every day the price keeps rising. Today it is N2 million last week it was N1.5 million.
“So I’m begging the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Information that something should be done for the media.
“There should be a credit facility for the media to borrow money. The media is too exposed something can be done. The government should help carry away the burden and save the media.”
Anaba also commended the Daily Trust Newspaper and the Federal Government for the amicable resolution of their differences over the SAMOA Agreement.
He said it shows that the newspaper industry can self-regulate.
He said: “This morning the daily newspaper published an apology over the complaint made by FG through the national security adviser and the honourable minister of information the reason I brought this up is this, the media in Nigeria can be very responsible.”
He also commended the NSA and the Minister of Information and National Orientation for submitting themselves to the process.
