President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major technology companies and generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the exploitation of Nigerian media content.
The directive followed a joint petition submitted to the presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which comprises 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 Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation.
The commission, in a statement on Monday, said the investigation will examine allegations that some global technology companies engaged in anti-competitive conduct, unlawfully exploited news content, and adopted business practices that threaten the sustainability of Nigeria’s media industry.
The agency said the companies named in the petition include Meta, X (formerly Twitter), Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and some generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria.
The FCCPC said it would determine whether the alleged conduct breaches the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.
Among the issues to be examined are 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; and claims that Nigerian media organisations have been denied fair opportunities to negotiate compensation or commercial agreements for the use of their content.
Tunji Bello, the FCCPC executive vice-chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), 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,” Bello was quoted as saying.
“Our responsibility is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law.”
The chief executive said the inquiry does not presume wrongdoing by any of the companies under investigation.
“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,” he said.
“Every party will be accorded a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached.”
The latest probe comes after Google faced similar allegations in South Africa in 2025.
The tech giant reached a compensation arrangement with South African authorities following an investigation by the South African Competition Commission into similar complaints by news publishers.
Under the agreement, Google is expected to pay South African news media R688 million (about $40 million) annually for between three and five years.
The FCCPC had also secured a landmark judgment against Meta in 2025 over alleged violations of the FCCPA, including data privacy breaches.
The commission imposed a $220 million fine on the company, although Meta has appealed the decision.
