By Martin Ekpeke
The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to launch a comprehensive investigation into major technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms operating in the country.
The probe follows serious allegations of anti-competitive practices, market dominance, and the unlawful exploitation of news content.
Tech giants under the radar include Meta, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), and X (formerly Twitter), alongside several Generative AI platforms.
The investigation was triggered by a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO). The NPO represents a coalition of key media bodies, including 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 officially communicated to the FCCPC via a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
The probe marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s media history. For years, the domestic media industry has expressed growing concern over how global digital platforms impact the sustainability of the country’s news ecosystem.
The NPO raised alarms that the actions of these tech conglomerates undermine fair competition, threaten the commercial viability of Nigerian media houses, and infringe upon the legitimate rights of local content creators and publishers.
Reacting to the directive, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, reassured stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to conducting 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 stated.
He further clarified that the inquiry does not presume guilt, adding, “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 specifically investigate whether the practices of these tech firms constitute a breach of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or other applicable regulations.
The FCCPC’s probe will focus on three primary areas of concern. First, the commission will investigate potential anti-competitive conduct and monopolistic tendencies by global tech giants in the Nigerian market. Second, it will review allegations regarding the unauthorized extraction, scraping, ingestion, or commercial utilization of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials, and original journalistic content to train Generative AI models.
Finally, the investigation will address concerns that global tech platforms have denied Nigerian news publishers meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair compensation or commercial arrangements for the use of their intellectual property.
This is not the first time the FCCPC has taken action against big tech. In 2025, the Commission won a landmark case against Meta for violating the FCCPA, including data breaches, resulting in a $220 million fine. Meta has since appealed that judgment.
Nigeria’s current regulatory move mirrors global trends where publishers are demanding fair returns from tech monopolies. Recently, a similar agitation and subsequent investigation by the South African Competition Commission forced Google to agree to compensate South African news media with R688 million ($40 million) annually for a period of three to five years.
The outcome of the FCCPC’s investigation could reshape the financial landscape and operational dynamics between global tech firms and Nigeria’s local media ecosystem.