Rising Printing, Distribution Costs Threatening Nigerian Newspapers–Publisher

Publisher of Authentic News Daily, Jacob Dickson, has raised concerns over the rising cost of newspaper production and distribution, as well as dwindling advertising revenue, which he said were putting pressure on newspaper publishers in Nigeria.

Dickson, who spoke to LEADERSHIP, called on the federal government to subsidise the cost of newsprint to ease the financial burden on publishers.

He said the cost of printing newspapers had risen significantly, while the expenses involved in distributing publications across cities nationwide had more than tripled following the increase in fuel prices.

“The cost of printing newspapers is seriously on the high side at the moment. We actually think the government can, in a way, subsidise the cost of newsprint. It will go a very long way in bringing down the cost of printing newspapers,” he said.

The publisher also identified the difficulty in attracting advertisements as another major challenge, noting that advertising remained a primary source of revenue for newspaper organisations.

According to him, even established media organisations are struggling to attract advertisements, leaving smaller publishers with greater difficulties in generating income.

Dickson said the financial challenges had also affected the organisation’s capacity to expand its workforce, disclosing that it currently had about 15 staff members across the country.

He expressed hope that the organisation would employ more people as its revenue improves.

Meanwhile, Authentic News Daily has been named Media Agency of the Year at the 2026 League of Extraordinary Achievers Awards (LEAA), organised by Gaze Production.

The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on Sunday, December 6, 2026, at Hotel Seventeen, Tafawa Balewa Way, Kaduna.

Established in 2015 as an online news platform, Authentic News Daily has expanded into print publishing, with its newspapers circulating in major cities across Nigeria.