The Commission said the investigation marks a significant step in addressing growing concerns over the impact of global digital platforms on Nigeria”s media industry and the sustainability of local news organisations.
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 Nigerian media content.
The directive, issued on July 6, 2026, follows a joint petition submitted by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
According to the FCCPC, the Federal Government communicated the directive through a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. The Commission said the investigation marks a significant step in addressing growing concerns over the impact of global digital platforms on Nigeria’s media industry and the sustainability of local news organisations.
The NPO has raised concerns about the practices of major technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet, X (formerly Twitter), and certain Generative AI platforms. The organisation alleges that some of these companies have engaged in practices capable of undermining fair competition, threatening the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations, and infringing on the rights of content creators and publishers.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the Commission would conduct an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation.
“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. 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.”
– Mr. Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, FCCPC
The Commission said it will assess whether the alleged conduct violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable laws. Areas of investigation include allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive conduct, the unauthorised extraction, scraping, ingestion or commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other journalistic content to develop and train Generative AI models, as well as claims that Nigerian media organisations have been denied fair commercial opportunities and compensation for the use of their content.
FCCPC noted that it has previously investigated Meta, securing a landmark judgment in 2025 that resulted in a $220 million fine for violations of the FCCPA, including data privacy breaches. The company has appealed the ruling.
The Commission also pointed to developments in South Africa, where similar complaints by media organisations and an investigation by the South African Competition Commission led to an agreement under which Google will compensate South African news publishers with R688 million (approximately $40 million) annually for a period of three to five years.
The FCCPC said the investigation aims to establish the facts, protect fair competition within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, and ensure that the interests of media organisations, technology companies and consumers are balanced in accordance with Nigerian law.
