Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has pledged to assist in the process of securing the N10 billion Nigeria Media Intervention Fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Minister confirmed this in Abuja during a virtual meeting with Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) .
Lai Mohammed promised to follow up on the loan request to ensure it was granted in zero or single digit interest rate, to assist the media industry overcome effects of Covid-19.
The Minister equally assured that he would meet with the Minister of Finance and Comptroller-General of Customs on the request of NPAN for waivers and relief tariff in the importation of media equipment and consumables.
He underscored the importance of the media in managing the COVID-19 pandemic through mobilization and sensitization especially at the time when there was no known vaccine or medicine for its cure.
Lai Mohammed called on the NPAN to make available to him a proposal on how government can influence Facebook, Google, Twitter and other social media platforms to pay for contents sourced and used from the Nigeria media.
Earlier, Chairman of NPAN and founder of This Day Media Group Mr Nduka Obaigbena said the association had applied for the N10 billion intervention fund but regretted that the process of accessing the facility was very difficult.
He called for an increase in advertising budget across all platforms of government, to better inform the people and disseminate critical information.
Mr. Obaigbena said Nigeria should take a cue from Australia, where the government of that country intervened in ensuring that Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms pay for Coronavirus contents.