The Nigeria Standard

The Nigeria Standard is a Nigerian daily newspaper headquartered in Jos, Plateau State. Its institutional origins date to 1972, when it was established by the then Benue-Plateau State government. The newspaper therefore emerged from the public-sector newspaper tradition in Nigeria, in which state governments created publishing organizations to provide news, public information, commentary, and a platform for reporting on political, social, and economic affairs within their territories. The paper’s early history is linked to the former Benue-Plateau State, a political unit that was later divided into Benue State and Plateau State. Following that reorganization, The Nigeria Standard ceased publication in 1986. The title was subsequently revived in 1992 through efforts associated with the governments of Benue and Plateau, although the later newspaper is owned by Plateau State and published by Plateau Publishing Corporation. The relaunch represented an attempt to restore an established newspaper identity while rebuilding the operational infrastructure needed for regular print production. The newspaper’s publishing base is Jos, the capital of Plateau State. Its current institutional identity is consequently closely associated with Plateau State’s public communications and media environment. The title has also been connected with a wider Nigerian distribution and reporting presence, including branch-office development in Abuja and Kaduna State during its post-1992 rebuilding. These locations indicate an effort to operate beyond a single-city readership and to maintain access to major administrative and media centers. A major part of the revival involved investment in production capacity. Reference material describes more than 400 million naira being spent on renovation, printing machinery, vehicles, and the construction of another branch office. No reliable time period or independently documented breakdown of that expenditure is available in the supplied material, so the figure is recorded as historical context rather than as a current financial measure. The investment reflects the capital-intensive nature of newspaper publishing, where printing equipment, transport, premises, and distribution networks are essential to maintaining a daily title. The Nigeria Standard is described as one of Nigeria’s older newspaper brands, with a history spanning its original launch, an interruption in publication, and a later re-establishment. Its principal offering is the newspaper itself, supported by the editorial and production functions of Plateau Publishing Corporation. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of its current circulation, editorial structure, digital audience, advertising business, or precise publication schedule beyond its description as a daily newspaper. Its website provides an online presence, but the supplied sources do not establish the full scope of its digital publishing activities. As a state-owned newspaper, The Nigeria Standard occupies a different position from privately controlled national newspaper groups. Its brand is associated with Plateau State ownership and with the historical role of government-backed newspapers in Nigeria. At the same time, the limited public information available for this dossier does not support detailed conclusions about its current editorial positioning, commercial performance, leadership, or competitive standing. Those areas require further verification from the newspaper, Plateau Publishing Corporation, official Plateau State records, or current Nigerian media directories.

The Nigeria Standard was established in 1972 by the Benue-Plateau State government. Its creation belongs to an era when Nigerian state governments often supported newspapers as instruments of public communication and as locally rooted news institutions. The title was connected to the former Benue-Plateau State, which was later divided into separate Benue and Plateau states. That political change formed part of the newspaper’s institutional background, although the available reference material does not specify how ownership, management, or editorial operations changed immediately after the state’s dissolution. Publication ended in 1986. The interruption marked a significant break in the newspaper’s first period of operation and left the title inactive for several years. In 1992, the newspaper was re-established through efforts involving Benue and Plateau. The revived publication was ultimately associated with Plateau State ownership and was published by Plateau Publishing Corporation, with headquarters in Jos. The available sources do not identify the individuals responsible for the relaunch or provide a detailed account of its editorial and financial arrangements. The re-establishment required substantial physical investment. More than 400 million naira was reportedly committed to renovation and the acquisition of printing machines and vehicles, as well as to the construction of another branch office. The described expansion included offices or operational facilities in Abuja and Kaduna State. These investments were intended to restore the newspaper’s production capabilities and broaden its ability to gather and distribute news beyond its Plateau State base. The source material does not provide a date for the expenditure, nor does it identify whether the amount covered one phase of redevelopment or a broader program. The Nigeria Standard is characterized as a daily Nigerian newspaper and as one of the country’s older news titles. Its headquarters in Jos gives it a strong association with Plateau State, while the reported branch-office development suggests an ambition to maintain a broader Nigerian reach. The newspaper’s current web address indicates that the brand also has an online presence. However, the supplied references do not establish the date of the website’s launch, its relationship to the print edition, its current audience, or the newspaper’s present publication volume. The historical record available for this entry is concise. It confirms the title’s 1972 founding, its cessation in 1986, its revival in 1992, its Plateau State ownership, its publication by Plateau Publishing Corporation, and the investment associated with its rebuilding. It does not provide verified information about later editors, publishers, circulation figures, financial results, editorial controversies, major campaigns, acquisitions, or changes in format. Accordingly, those details remain open for further research rather than being inferred. The newspaper’s documented history is best understood as that of a publicly owned Nigerian daily that survived an extended publication gap and was rebuilt as a Plateau-based publishing institution.

• 1992

  Newspaper re-established

  [1]The Nigeria Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The title was revived through efforts associated with Benue and Plateau, later operating under Plateau State ownership.

• 1986

  Publication ceased

  [1]The Nigeria Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper stopped publishing after its first period of operation.

• 1972

  Newspaper established

  [1]The Nigeria Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The Benue-Plateau State government established The Nigeria Standard as a state-associated newspaper.

A state-owned Nigerian newspaper with roots in the Benue-Plateau government publishing system and a primary base in Jos, Plateau State.

• Daily newspaper · 1972

  The Nigeria Standard

  The core product is a Nigerian daily newspaper published by Plateau Publishing Corporation. It is headquartered in Jos and is associated with Plateau State ownership. The available reference material identifies the title as a daily newspaper but does not provide verified details about its sections, circulation, subscription model, advertising formats, or current print frequency beyond the daily designation.

• Online news publishing

  The Nigeria Standard online edition

  The brand maintains an online presence through its official website, https://thenigeriastandard.ng. The supplied sources confirm the website but do not document the date of launch, the precise relationship between the website and the print newspaper, or the scope of its digital news, archive, advertising, and audience services.

• 1992

  Decision to re-establish the newspaperStrategy

  Background

  After publication had ceased in 1986, efforts associated with Benue and Plateau sought to restore The Nigeria Standard as a functioning newspaper.

  Action taken

  The title was relaunched, with Plateau State becoming its documented owner and Plateau Publishing Corporation serving as publisher.

  Aftermath

  The re-established newspaper operated from Jos and was supported by investment in renovation, printing machinery, vehicles, and additional branch-office infrastructure.

  Source

• Investment in publishing infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  The revived newspaper required renewed production and distribution capacity after its earlier interruption.

  Action taken

  More than 400 million naira was reportedly spent on renovation, printing machines, vehicles, and the construction of another branch office.

  Aftermath

  The investment supported the newspaper’s physical publishing infrastructure and wider operating presence, although the source does not provide a date or a detailed expenditure breakdown.

  Reported infrastructure investment. More than 400 million naira invested

  Source

1. 1The Nigeria Standarden.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Nigeria Standard official websitethenigeriastandard.ng