Some authors, publishers, booksellers, and booksellers who spoke on Wednesday at an event to unveil programmes for the 2022 Nigeria International Book Fair scheduled for between May 12 and May 14, in Lagos, identified piracy, multiple taxations by governments as a burden to the book industry.
Speaking at the event, Chairman, Nigeria International Book Fair Trust and Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan, Oyo State-based Accessible Publishers, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, said neglect of the industry by governments was no longer tolerable. He noted that stakeholders in the sector might be forced to shut down the book sector to draw the government’s attention to their plight.
Adedapo stated, “We are adding value to society, but the government is only looking at us. If we shut down everything pertaining to books, the government will be forced to sit down and listen. Government should change its ways that are harming the book trade and do their part, then things will change. Triple taxes are killing us, but pirates don’t pay anything – both overhead and taxes, because all of them don’t even have offices you can trace them to.
He added that passion for the business was the sustaining factor, saying “But we won’t stop but continue doing what we do. If not for passion, those of us in the book trade would have given up. We need a National Book Policy to right the many wrongs in the industry. Only the government can give us that.”Also, President, Nigerian Booksellers Association and Chairman Organising Committee, Mr.
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