ANEC Conference: Obaigbena Urges Support For Tinubu’s Economic Reforms, Calls for Local Industry Protection

Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, has urged editors to support the economic reforms of the Tinubu-led administration anchored on protection of the poor and vulnerable.

The media mogul said this on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the All Nigerian Editors’ Conference (ANEC) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Obaigbena, who served as the Chairman of the conference, said the future could be better “if we stay the course of economic reforms.” He added that the poor should be given necessary incentives to survive and thrive.

Obaigbena said if the Nigerian economy was fixed, the country would be in a better position to compete favourably with other countries.

He stated that to move forward, the four refineries managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) must work to create room for competition with the only functioning refinery owned by Dangote Group to promote competition and price discovery.

He also said there was a need to support domestic refining of petroleum products.

He called for the protection of local industries noting that Trump has vowed to use tariffs to protect American companies. “Nigeria should start thinking of protecting its own industries”

He warned that Nigeria should not allow cheap petroleum imports to ruin local refining capacity. He described Dangote Refinery as a game changer for the country, warning that “if Dangote Refinery fails, our economy would fail.

He challenged those accusing Dangote of monopoly, to go and build their own refinery and compete. “I believe the accusation of monopoly will disappear if NNPCL’s four refineries become functional.”

Obaigbena called on the federal government to ensure the four refineries are restored to working conditions which will create an environment for proper competition in refined products in the country.

Speaking at the occasion, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, decried a situation where the state, as a major contributor to Nigeria’s oil and gas production, still faced severe environmental challenges and economic hardship.

He said the country must rethink the outdated idea that states had rights to surface land, while the federal government monopolised valuable underground resources.

Diri charged media practitioners to protect their integrity, saying it is not only the cornerstone of their profession but also builds trust with the public and fortifies the foundations of a healthy democracy.

The governor said the press, as the fourth pillar of democracy, had become more critical in serving as a beacon of hope and in promoting understanding and unity.

Describing the theme of the conference, “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country,” as relevant and timely, the Bayelsa governor said Nigerians were at a pivotal moment in the country’s journey towards sustainable development.

He lamented that while Nigeria brimmed with abundant resources, poverty and underdevelopment persisted across countless communities, a situation he described as paradoxical.

Diri said, “ln Bayelsa State, for instance, a major contributor to Nigeria’s oil and gas production, we face severe environmental challenges and economic hardship.

“As editors and chief communicators in our society, you have the power to shine a light on these injustices. Therefore, we implore you as editors and influential voices to advocate for policies that prioritise sustainable development and empower local communities.

“The discussions are not just abstract concepts. They directly affect people’s lives, particularly those suffering from resource exploitation, environmental harm, and unequal economic access.”

Veteran journalist and Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, stressed that the media industry was in distress following the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy on the transportation sector.

Amuka stated that revenue from newspaper sales could no longer sustain transport cost, adding that the newspaper business is at the verge of going extinct. He emphasised that online editions were not the same as hard copies.

He stated that advertisement revenue, which often supported newspaper sales, had dwindled, adding that the once ubiquitous newspaper vendors have disappeared from the scene due to drop in patronage.

Amuka applauded President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba, for the survival of the media outfit.

Amuka stated, “Without Eze, there will be no Vanguard. Vanguard would have been dead. With his resilience, Vanguard has continued to be on the streets because we have to publish.

“If we don’t publish, we will be an online publication and that will not be good.

“What the newspaper proprietors earn now is not enough to transport the papers.”

Amuka regretted that due to the economic hardship, many colleagues could no longer afford to fuel their cars.

Earlier, Chief Segun Osoba, a veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State, urged editors to resolve the leadership crisis bedevilling the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Osoba said the crisis had become so deep that in the past two years, NUJ had not held elections. He urged the NGE to intervene.

Emmanuel Addeh, Sunday Aborisade, Olawale Ajimotokan and Olusegun Samuel

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