President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that his administration will review proposals for corporate tax relief and VAT exemptions for the media.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, Tinubu stated that his administration will provide access to low-interest loans and repeal laws that hinder press freedom.
Tinubu, responding to requests presented earlier by the Guild’s leadership, acknowledged that proposals for media sector reliefs, including a corporate tax review, VAT exemption, and access to affordable financing through the Bank of Industry, will be considered.
“I have listened to the requests of the leadership of the Guild,” he said. “We will review the proposals on corporate tax relief, VAT exemptions for the media, access to low-interest loans, and repeal of laws that inhibit press freedom. I endorse the idea of a Media Freedom and Safety Charter, which will be worked out soon,” Tinubu said.
He reminded editors of their duty to project the nation’s image responsibly, saying the media must balance the right to criticise with the obligation to preserve unity and hope. “What should worry you is the image of the country we project to the outside world,” the President said. “How well are your institutions helping to build a nation of credibility and integrity? We may be challenged, but we are not defeated. Poverty will not define us; we will overcome it.”
“Your presence here reflects the enduring importance of the media in shaping national direction and strengthening democratic life,” the President said. “Throughout our history, journalism in Nigeria has been more than a profession — it has been an instrument of national awakening. From the early newspapers that challenged colonial injustice to the principled voices that kept hope alive during the dark days of military rule, the Nigerian press has stood at critical moments to defend reason, dignity, and progress,” he said.
He paid tribute to veteran journalists who, he said, endured intimidation and hardship in defence of the public good. “Many journalists suffered detention and persecution in the fight for freedom,” he said.
“Their sacrifices form part of the foundation upon which our democracy rests today. We honour them not only in memory but by remaining faithful to the values they upheld.”
President Tinubu, however, cautioned that freedom secured through struggle must be exercised with responsibility. “Freedom is not self-sustaining; it requires constant vigilance and responsible use,” he said.
“A democracy is sustained not only by elections and laws, but also by the integrity of public conversation. This is where your role becomes central and indispensable.”
On security, President Tinubu reiterated that his administration continues to support the Armed Forces and other security agencies in their fight against terrorism and banditry. “They put their lives on the line to defend the sovereignty of this country,” he said. “It is our collective responsibility to encourage and support them.”
He urged editors to utilise their platforms to promote values that unite the nation and bolster public confidence in democracy. “Let us choose clarity over confusion, responsibility over recklessness, and hope over despair,” he said. “The stories we tell ourselves as a nation and as a people influence the country we become.”
Editors accountable for democracy, electoral integrity — Uzodimma
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has stated that editors and media leaders must be held accountable for the strength of Nigeria’s democracy, the integrity of its elections, and the level of public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2025 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the Governor said the press cannot claim neutrality in shaping democratic outcomes, stressing that “editors are not spectators but catalysts” in the preservation of national unity and electoral credibility.
The conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” featured a sub-theme on “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027.”
Uzodimma said both topics are inseparable and directly tied to the professional conduct of editors. “If you have a role to play in democratic governance and national cohesion, then you also have a role to play in electoral integrity and trust deficit,” he said. “Without electoral integrity, there can be no democracy. Electoral integrity begets democracy, and democracy begets good governance.”
…We’ve not shut down any media house under Tinubu — Information Minister
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Wednesday reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s firm commitment to press freedom, declaring that no media organisation in Nigeria has been harassed, shut down, or silenced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking at the 2025 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) held at the State House, Abuja, the Minister described the President’s attendance at the event as a historic moment—the first time a sitting Nigerian leader had personally attended the Guild’s annual conference. He said the gesture underscored the high regard the administration has for the media as a vital pillar of democracy.
“It is significant to note that not a single radio or television station has been threatened, gagged, or shut down by this government for expressing dissent,” Idris said. “This is not a coincidence but a conscious commitment to the constitutional principles of press freedom.”
…Editors seek tax relief, VAT Exemption to Sustain Media Industry
President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant tax reliefs, value-added tax (VAT) exemptions, and low-interest loans to support the survival and sustainability of the Nigerian media industry.
Anaba said the media’s economic viability was vital to Nigeria’s democracy, as it directly affects the press’s constitutional duty to hold the government accountable and keep citizens informed.
The conference, declared open by President Tinubu, was themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors.” It drew over 400 editors, senior journalists, and media executives from across the country to deliberate on the future of journalism in a rapidly changing environment.
Anaba described the President’s attendance as historic — the first by a sitting Nigerian leader — and said it underscored the administration’s recognition of the media as a strategic partner in nation-building.
“Mr President, your presence underscores your administration’s recognition of the strategic importance of the media in nation-building and in deepening democratic governance,” he said. “Indeed, this gathering reflects our collective resolve to ensure that the media remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy.”
He also paid tribute to the founders of the annual conference, particularly Malam Baba Dantiye, who initiated the first ANEC in 2004, and other veteran media leaders such as Uncle Sam Amuka, Aremo Segun Osoba, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, and Dr John Momoh, whom he described as pillars of Nigerian journalism.
Anaba said while the media is constitutionally recognised as the Fourth Estate of the Realm under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, its effectiveness as a watchdog depends on its financial stability.
