Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA) has congratulated one of its critical stakeholders and publisher of Blueprint Newspaper, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, on his appointment as Minister of Information and National Orientation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The president of the association, Comrade Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, in a statement he personally signed on Sunday, said his association was grateful to President Tinubu for appointing Alh. Idris as a Minister and putting him in charge of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
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Emmanuel said the appointment was well-deserved and a round peg in a round hole. The newspapers distributors’ boss said he was optimistic about the reign of Alh. Idris, who is coming from the media industry, and would bring about a total turnaround for the print media, which is presently facing challenges due to the advent of new media and some government policies such as monetisation.
He said one agendum the new minister must pursue vigorously was cancellation of the monetisation policy. He said the policy, introduced by the Obasanjo government, had dealt a big blow to the newspaper industry as appropriated funds for newspapers and magazines in government offices are diverted and used for other purposes.
Emmanuel urged Idris to impress on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and President Tinubu who is also a publisher to cancel the policy and make it compulsory for ministries, departments and agencies to buy all newspapers and magazines and on a daily basis for their top management staff.
He said such government patronage, which is adequately provided for in the annual appropriation act, would greatly revive the ailing industry thereby impacting positively on his members.