Nigerian newspapers for rent

Rented papers cannot be taken away

By Sam Olukoya in Lagos

Impoverished Nigerians hungry for news of the US-led war on terrorism are keeping up with events - by renting newspapers.

And those who find renting beyond their means learn the news for free by reading the front pages spread out on the floor.

Even those who cannot read are hearing the latest news by listening to the discussions of the "free readers".

Read all about it

Readers can rent newspapers for about 10 cents

'Free readers' can scan front pages but not touch the newspapers

'Listeners' learn the news by overhearing free readers' debates

Newspapers cost around 50 cents, which is about a quarter of the daily wage to many Nigerians.

The country's print media is one of the most vibrant in Africa and has lived up to expectations in its coverage of events since 11 September terrorist attacks.

But newspapers, like many other things, are beyond the reach of most people.

'Pay and read'

To beat the prices, thousands of poor people eager to keep abreast of the war on terror are renting newspapers.

Alagbe Abdullahi, a Lagos roadside newspaper vendor, charges readers 10 cents to rent his papers.

Free readers cannot touch the newspapers

Those who rent must stay at the news-stand to read.

When they are finished, they return the newspapers to him.

"This system is known as pay and read," says Mr Abdullahi.

The free readers are allowed to stand close to the news-stands and read the front pages which are usually spread out on tables or on the floor.

Free readers are not allowed to touch the newspapers, which means they cannot read the inside pages.

Kelly Christian, a free reader, says that by reading the front page stories he has been able to keep abreast of the international crisis.

The crowd of free readers sometimes spills into the busy highway where they are knocked down by motorcycles

Adesegun Olusanya

"The vendors are very generous to allow people to read to their papers for free," he says.

Mr Abdullahi says there are more free readers in Nigeria than regular buyers in the wake of the 11 September attacks.

"Tolerating free readers is part of the social service vendors are rendering to the poor," he says.

At a roadside in Ikeja, the commercial heart of Lagos, six vendors keep a 20 metre stretch of news-stands.

Many readers unemployed

Adesegun Olusanya, an agricultural science graduate turned newspaper distributor, says: "About 10,000 people have been visiting here every day since the terrorist attack in the United States, but most of them are free readers and not buyers.

"The stream of people is endless. They keep coming and going throughout the day.

Vendors say they are doing good business

"Mishaps have become a regular occurrence. The crowd of free readers sometimes spills into the busy highway where they are knocked down by motorcycles."

Many free readers are unemployed. Most of them stay at the news stands to kill time by arguing over what they have read.

Many illiterate people anxious to know what the papers say get an update by simply going to listen to the arguments.

Lagos bus driver Kareem Oladokun, who visits the news-stand near his motor park, says he has learned a lot from the free readers.

"I often come here to listen to what the free readers are saying," he says.

"Many of them are very educated people."

Vendors say no event has kept the interest of readers over such a long time like the terrorist attacks in the US and subsequent events.

Renting newspapers remains good business.