The problems of Nigeria’s distressed paper industry and urgent redress to avoid damaging revenue loss took centre stage at the 2023 Annual Conference/General Meeting of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA). It is a well-known fact that the country’s major paper mills, Nigeria Paper Mill Limited, Jebba, Kwara State; Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company Limited, Oku-Iboku, Akwa Ibom State; and Nigerian National Paper Manufacturing Company Limited, Ogun State, have closed shop, with only a few others operational. The book industry, including publishers and newspapers, is reeling under the prohibitive cost of importing newsprint, which has further reduced profit margin. Per the National Bureau of Statistics data, Nigeria imported paper and its allied products worth N296.696 billion between July and December 2021. Oladele further recommended influencing the federal government to declare a state of emergency on paper and establish a Paper and Graphics Development Commission.

Source: Nigerian Tribune December 10, 2023 16:54 UTC