Overseas production of Bibles costs $4m annually ' BSN

The Bible Society of Nigeria on Tuesday said it spent $4m annually on production of Bibles overseas for distribution in the country.The BSN said the high custom duties on raw materials for the local production of Bibles had made it necessary for it to consult foreign publishers in a bid to cut cost and ensure a wider distribution of the holy book.The General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the BSN, Rev. Fred Odutola, made this known in Lagos during a press briefing on the occasion of a three-day conference of the United Bible Society-the fellowship of National Bible societies in the worldwhich entered its second day on Tuesday.Odutola said the country's foreign exchange earnings would have been saved if the duties on materials for the production of bibles were relaxed.He said, "The duty on importing papers and other materials for the local production of bibles is quite high. We have made representations to government to relax the duties on several occasions. Since imported books don't attract duties we have resorted to foreign production." The General Secretary of the UBS and Chairman of the conference, Mr. Michael Perreau, said the purpose of the conference was to enable member societies to interact and cross-fertilise ideas and opinions, especially on the challenges faced and feats achieved in making bibles available to people around the world."The main purpose of our meeting in Nigeria is to share and learn from one another and have a review and analysis of the activities of the 146 member societies who work together in over 200 countries and territories across the world in order to make the scriptures available for worship, witness, discipleship and spiritual growth," Perreau said.The President and Board Chairman of the BSN, Dr. Aaron Nuhu, said Nigeria was chosen as the host of the conference because of the strategic role it plays in the distribution of copies of the Bible in Nigeria and other African countries.Nuhu said, "The BSN is currently the leading distributor of bibles in Africa and the number one English bible distributor in the world. The leading role the Society plays in Africa lends credence to its choice as the host of the conference."
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