The economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on the Republic of Niger since July 30, 2023 impact the daily lives of media professionals.
A crisis which comes on top of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Seminars, international conferences, workshops and NGO activities, etc. are in decline even though they are sources of revenue for the media. According to the Nigerien Association of Independent Press Publishers (Anepi), “Of the twenty or so titles appearing regularly, a maximum of seven are currently being released, the others have disappeared,” informed Souley Zabérou, president of Anepi.
Printing costs are rising and newspaper sales are falling. From 125,000 FCFA to 130,000 FCFA before the coup, the costs of printing 500 copies of a newspaper rose to around 160,000 FCFA. “And newspaper sales have fallen: out of 500 copies placed on newsstands, “barely 100 are sold”, since “people no longer have money”, he confided to our colleagues from Aïrinfoagadez.
Thus, revenues have fallen and the Nigerien press faces difficulties in meeting its financial commitments. Layoffs are being observed in certain editorial offices with the reduction of the team. “To lighten the load, most radio and television stations temporarily suspend their broadcasts during the day then cut off the air earlier than usual, according to their managers,” we inform.
Atha ASSAN