Experts in the book value chain that include authors, publishers, booksellers, printers, among others have made a plea to the Federal Government to urgently come their aid by enacting the long-awaited National Book Policy to save the sector from collapse.

They listed the nefarious activities of pirates, multiple taxations by the three tiers of government, and rates charged by respective ministries of education by state governments as unbearable burden undermining the book industry.

They made these charges yesterday in Lagos while unveiling programmes and activities for this year’s Nigeria International Book Fair 2022 scheduled to hold at Harbour Point Event Centre, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It will be a three-day event from Thursday, May 12 through Saturday, May 14, 2022. This is the second year running when the book fair would be held at the venue, the first being last year.

While speaking in Lagos, Chairman of Nigeria International Book Fair Trust (NIBFT), Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, who is also the CEO of Ibadan-based Accessible Publishers, said the government’s neglect of the book sector was no longer tolerable. He threatened that those of them in the book value chain might be compelled to shut down the book sector, as the only way to get the government’s attention to do what it needs to do to correct age-long anomalies in the sector.

“We are adding value to society, but the government is only look at us,” he declared. “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. So they can afford to sell at whatever price.”

Adedapo, however, said sheer passion for the business has been the factor sustaining his members otherwise most of them would have wound down their businesses.

“But we won’t stop but continue doing what we do,” he continued. “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 government can give us that.”

President of the Nigerian Booksellers Association and chairman Organising Committee, Mr Dare Oluwatuyi, said the book fair is the efforts designed by those in the book value chain to “encourage and ensure that reading culture is sustained and made to grow. We want to ensure that reading culture does not die or go down.”

Adadepo also debunked the insinuation that the yearly book fair that brings all lovers of books together in one spot is not inclusive enough, saying that was not the case. He said it was a committee was set up to “manage this inclusivity”. He outlined programmes the book fair would offer that also include for school pupils and students alike.

Also, consultant to the book fair and CEO of Knowledge Beyond, Mr Remi Adesokan, said school children would have a great time at the book fair like last year when contests like Spelling Bee, Quiz, and Mathematics were offered with exciting prizes that were won.

Also at the event was a member of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Mrs Florence Okorji, who expressed excitement at the inclusivity of the book fair, saying it was not an adult-based book fair, as wrongly insinuated in some quarters.

“It’s good to note that the book fair has programmes for children to look forward to,” Okorji said. “The MDGs will avail school owners opportunity to interact with those concerned. I look forward to a rewarding outing, as we join hands to sensitise people to make sure that the book fair goes wide.”