The President and Chairman In Council of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON), Mr Olugbemi Malomo, said the industry is been monopolized in Nigeria by a few foreigners paper merchants in the country and if adequate measures are not taken, the industry will tear apart.
He made this statement on a national printers platform- Change@CIPPON WhatsApp group during an outrage of different printers complaining of how the recent consistent increase in paper price by foreign paper merchants who have monopolised the industry.
According to him, paper is the biggest raw material and constitutes more than 50 per cent of any printing contract. ” We do not just paper cartels, but we also have “cartels” among us who are benefiting so much from the Industry and contributing absolutely nothing to the industry. Their only contribution is trying to lead us to roadblocks in an attempt to cripple our operations and we are not going to crave into them, we must collectively rise above the “enemies” within. I am speaking as CIPPON president”. He said
He added, “CIPPON is ready to lead if you are prepared to follow. Under our watch, no individual is or will be bigger than the Institute and no company will be bigger than the Act. What we have done so far: Press release in five newspapers to call the attention of the authority, we are in touch with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the matter is under investigation, we are having an emergency council meeting to discuss the issues and revert to the industry accordingly. What you can do as a practitioner is for every member to pay their dues and licensing fees. The right to practice as a printer belongs to CIPPON according to the ACT and I look forward to taking one or two doubters to court to test this! He stated
Moreso, the Secretary of the Institute, Mr Akin Oduwole said: “My job is that people can never be deceived. On my last visit to the National Assembly, I spent my personal funds, the institute is not liquid to refund transport cost at the moment.
He further explained that in last year’s account the institute made N6m as delivered at the AGM, 60% of that was gifts, we had to beg those we know for gifts to rent a secretariat.
Till now less than 100 people have registered in the database capture, we are currently working, in an industry where printers cannot be less than 4million people nationwide.
The people must be ready to take back their industry and the litmus test is by putting your money where it’s most needed”
Comrade Salako Babajide stated that leadership is about issues and finding solutions to them. Leaders don’t run away from issues and he stressed that the problem is more within than outside, except every practitioner agree to fight the battle headlong, otherwise, the industry will continue to lament and remain stagnant.
Some angered Printers stressed that its high time CIPPON took the bull by the horn, this anomaly must end. CIPPON already started the good work but they need more awareness that can bring in more big businessmen into the paper market to break the monopoly in the market, they said.
Some practitioners emphasized that the Indians are controlling the paper market while our politicians are looting the treasurer to acquire properties and build hotels. For example, a specific paper merchant own by Indians was said to be responsible for over-inflating the price of paper in Port Harcourt, Printers Digest contacted the head of paper sales in the alleged company to get their reaction but a meeting has scheduled, and their reaction will be published soonest to the public.
