President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on Monday, July 6, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria, directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to launch a formal investigation into major global technology companies over alleged anti-competitive practices and exploitation of Nigerian media content.
The directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which includes 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 petition raised concerns about the commercial use of news content and the sustainability of Nigeria’s media ecosystem in the digital age.
The centres on allegations involving major platforms such as Meta, Alphabet (Google), X, formerly Twitter, and selected generative artificial intelligence systems operating within the country.
The Presidency communicated its directive through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tunji Bello, confirmed that the Commission would conduct what he described as a fair, independent and evidence-based inquiry into the allegations.
“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 and consistent with Nigerian law.”
He stressed that no company had been presumed guilty, adding that all stakeholders would be given the opportunity to present evidence before any conclusions are reached.
The investigation will examine whether the activities of the affected companies breach provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or other applicable regulations.
It will also assess claims relating to market dominance, data usage, and the commercial training of artificial intelligence systems using copyrighted news content.
A key area of focus is the allegation that technology platforms may have engaged in unauthorised scraping and commercial reuse of journalistic material without fair compensation to Nigerian media organisations.
Another concern is the absence of structured licensing or revenue-sharing arrangements between global tech firms and local publishers.
The FCCPC noted that similar disputes have emerged globally, citing South Africa’s ongoing negotiations with Google, which reportedly led to discussions around annual compensation packages for news publishers.
The Commission also referenced its previous enforcement action against Meta, where it secured a $220 million penalty over alleged violations of the FCCPA, including data protection breaches. Meta has since appealed the ruling.
Stakeholders within Nigeria’s media industry have continued to argue that digital platforms benefit significantly from locally produced content without corresponding remuneration, a concern now expected to be tested through the new regulatory probe.
Also read: FCCPC raises concern over petroleum price reductions
The outcome of the investigation is expected to shape future digital competition policy and content monetisation frameworks in Nigeria’s evolving media and technology landscape.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
