Publishers call for FG’s support

The President and Chairman in Council of the Nigerian Publishers’ Association (NPA), Lukman Dauda, has called for urgent government intervention to address rising production costs, piracy and a declining reading culture.

He made the call on Thursday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of Media Trust Group, the owner of Daily Trust, Weekend Trust, Teen Trust, Digital Trust, Aminiya, Trust TV and Trust Radio.

The NPA president said the industry prioritised knowledge impact over profit but faced severe obstacles, including expensive production materials and fluctuating foreign exchange rates affecting paper imports.

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“Our primary aim as publishers is to impact knowledge, which is why we are never after the profits. However, all the materials used for production are imported at a high cost, which also affects the price of the output.”

The president also spoke on the decline in reading culture, with younger generations shifting toward non-value-adding content, pointing out the need for quality books to shape the future.

“Additionally, piracy remains a major threat, with well-funded operations undermining legitimate publishers. However, with our recent collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), we are working hard to bring it down to a minimal,” he added.

He sought collaboration, engagement, and support from the Media Trust Group to enable the association get more visibility.

Meanwhile, acting Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Trust, Hamza Idris, noted the media’s role in tackling economic and social concerns as he pushed for industry-wide cooperation in seeking government waivers on necessary supplies, which are mostly priced in dollars.

“I believe the stronger our voices, the better advantage we have to negotiate with the government, especially in getting waivers because everything we use, from the ink to plates and newsprint, is all bought in dollars,” Idris stated.

Both parties urged the government to support local paper mills and incentivise investment in publishing, emphasizing the sector’s potential to boost economic growth and literacy in Nigeria.