President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, to investigate major technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria over alleged anti-competitive practices and unlawful exploitation of news content.
The directive follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO, comprising NPAN, NUJ, BON and 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. According to the release, the investigation will examine allegations of market dominance, unauthorised scraping of copyrighted news and broadcast materials for AI training, and lack of equitable commercial agreements between global tech firms and Nigerian publishers.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to an independent 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,” Bello said. “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 clarified that the probe is not a presumption of guilt. “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.
The FCCPC will specifically determine if the practices breach the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA 2018, or any other applicable law. The Commission noted that in 2025 it won a landmark case against Meta for data breach violations under the FCCPA, resulting in a $220 million fine, which Meta has since appealed. Areas of interest in the new probe also include compensation models, citing South Africa’s recent settlement where Google agreed to pay South African news media R688 million, about $40 million, annually for 3 to 5 years.
The investigation, according to the FCCPC, promises to open a new vista in Nigeria’s media history as concerns grow over the impact of digital platforms on the sustainability of the country’s news ecosystem. The Commission said it will engage all stakeholders and ensure that Nigerian media organisations are not denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair compensation for the use of their journalistic content.
