Ban importation of printed materials, experts tell Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

Experts in the printing industry have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to place an embargo on the importation of printed and other instructional materials, including textbooks, into the country.

They also called for direct patronage of indigenous printers by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal and state governments.

The demand, they said, became necessary to give indigenous printers the opportunity to operate at maximum capacity and expand their business.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Yaliam Press Limited, Yahaya Amfani, stated these during the opening ceremony of the Nigeria International Print Expo in Abuja.

The expo’s theme was ‘Print business in the North: Emerging opportunities and possibilities’.

According to him, effective government partnership with local print industry would lead to more job creation; conservation of foreign exchange, prevention of capital flight; improved capacity building in the industry, citizenry and government at all levels.

He also expressed optimism that it would bring revenue generation through payment of taxes by indigenous printers, among others.

Amfani said, “We are confident of the present administration’s resolve that Nigeria should be self-reliant. To this end, we commend the government for the imposition of total ban on importation of textile materials and hope that the same is extended to the printing industry. This will give us that desired room to operate to the fullest.”

While stressing that Nigerian printers could satisfy printing demands in Nigeria and Africa, he however, regretted that “lots of print jobs leave the shores of this country, leaving us with little to do most times.”

The organiser of the event and President, DCS Integrated Media Limited, Tunde Obokhai, in his presentation, challenged investors to take advantage of the enormous potential of the print industry in the North.

He said, “There is a lot of potential yet unharnessed within. It is possible for us to satisfy our country’s printing needs in offset, digital printing, security printing such as visas, electoral materials, passports, currency, labels printing, light packaging, publishing and all printing related matters.