A former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Femi Soneye, has called on the Federal Government to grant tax reliefs and other forms of support to strengthen the Nigerian media industry.
Mr. Soneye made the appeal in Abuja while receiving the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory Council’s Excellence in Corporate Communications Award.
He noted that despite being one of the most vibrant in Africa, the Nigerian media is weighed down by financial, political, legal and technological challenges.
He urged the government to consider tax waivers on import duties for newsprint, broadcast equipment and digital infrastructure.
Mr. Soneye further advocated the creation of an independent media development fund to support investigative journalism, community broadcasting and innovation in newsrooms.
His appeal comes amid similar calls from media stakeholders, including the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), for urgent government intervention to save the industry from collapse.
At the recent All Nigerian Editors Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, NGE President, Mr. Anaba Eze, identified scarcity of resource materials as the biggest threat to media survival in the country.
Likewise, participants at the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture also urged government to grant direct and indirect subsidies to the media, noting that in several countries, journalists enjoy tax exemptions or reduced allowances.
Presenting the NUJ award, the Chairperson of the FCT Council, Mrs. Grace Ike, described Mr. Soneye as a consummate communications professional who has remained consistent in his advocacy for a stronger, sustainable and independent Nigerian media.