President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major technology firms and Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria over allegations of anti-competitive practices and unlawful use of news content.
This in contained in a statement Ondaje Ijagwu, Director, Corporate Affairs yesterday stressing that the directive follows a joint petition to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which represents the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
The Federal Government’s position was conveyed to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
The NPO has raised concerns over the impact of global digital platforms on the sustainability of Nigeria’s news ecosystem. Specifically, it named Meta, Alphabet, X (formerly Twitter), and certain Generative AI platforms, alleging practices that could undermine fair competition, weaken the commercial viability of Nigerian media, and infringe on the rights of content creators and publishers.
The petition cites three main issues market dominance and potential anti-competitive conduct, Unauthorised extraction, scraping, or commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials, and other journalistic content to develop and train Generative AI models.
“Lack of equitable commercial engagement between global tech firms and Nigerian news publishers, with claims that media houses have been denied fair negotiation for compensation or licensing of their content.
“FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Mr. Tunji Bello said the Commission will conduct an independent, transparent, and evidence-based inquiry.
“We recognise the strategic importance of the media to Nigeria’s democracy and the equally significant role of technology in driving innovation and economic growth. Our responsibility is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law,” Bello said.
He stressed that the probe does not presume wrongdoing. “This inquiry is not directed at any entity by presumption of wrongdoing. Rather, it is an opportunity to carefully examine the facts, hear from all affected parties, and determine whether any conduct has resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices. Every party will be accorded a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached.”
The FCCPC will assess whether any practices breach the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or other relevant laws.
The Commission previously investigated Meta and, in 2025, secured a landmark ruling against the company for FCCPA violations including data breaches, resulting in a $220m fine. Meta has appealed the penalty.
Similar concerns have played out in other markets. After agitation by South African media and a probe by the South African Competition Commission, Google agreed to compensate South African news media with R688 million ($40 million) annually for three to five years.
The FCCPC inquiry marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s media-tech relations. The outcome could shape how global platforms engage with Nigerian publishers and how journalistic content is used in AI training and digital distribution.
