President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unlawful exploitation of news content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.
The directive follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), an umbrella body comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
The Federal Government’s directive was conveyed to the FCCPC in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, instructing the competition regulator to examine the allegations and determine whether the conduct of the technology firms contravenes Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws.
The move signals what could become one of the most significant regulatory investigations into the relationship between global digital platforms and Nigeria’s media industry, amid growing concerns that technology companies are benefiting commercially from journalistic content without adequate compensation to publishers.
At the centre of the probe are global technology firms including Meta, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria. Media organisations allege that the companies have engaged in practices capable of undermining fair competition, weakening the commercial sustainability of Nigerian news organisations and infringing on the rights of publishers and content creators.
Announcing the investigation, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the Commission would conduct an impartial and evidence-driven inquiry that balances the interests of the media industry with the role of technology in economic development.
“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 investigation should not be interpreted as a declaration of guilt against any company.
“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,” he added.
According to the FCCPC, investigators will determine whether the alleged practices violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable Nigerian law.
Among the issues expected to come under scrutiny are allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive conduct by major digital platforms. The Commission will also examine claims that some companies have extracted, scraped, ingested or commercially utilised copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic works to develop and train Generative AI models without authorisation or compensation.
The investigation will further assess complaints that Nigerian media organisations have been denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair commercial agreements with global technology companies despite the extensive use of their content on digital platforms.
The latest action comes against the backdrop of the FCCPC’s previous enforcement actions involving Meta. In 2025, the Commission secured a landmark legal victory against the technology company over violations of the FCCPA, including data privacy breaches, resulting in a $220 million fine. Meta has appealed the judgment, and the matter remains subject to further legal proceedings.
The Nigerian media industry’s campaign for compensation mirrors developments in other jurisdictions. In South Africa, sustained advocacy by media organisations prompted an investigation by the South African Competition Commission, which ultimately led to an agreement under which Google committed to compensate South African news publishers with R688 million (about $40 million) annually for between three and five years.
Industry observers say the outcome of the FCCPC investigation could reshape the relationship between Nigeria’s news industry and global technology companies, particularly as governments around the world seek to ensure that digital platforms fairly compensate publishers whose content drives user engagement and supports the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technologies.
The FCCPC has indicated that all affected parties, including the technology companies and media organisations, will be given the opportunity to present evidence before any regulatory decisions are taken, underscoring that the inquiry will be conducted independently, transparently and in accordance with Nigerian law.
