President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies over allegations of anti-competitive practices and unlawful exploitation of news content from Nigerian media organisations.
The FCCPC disclosed this in a release issued on Monday, July 6, 2026, signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.
According to the Commission, the directive follows a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO). The NPO 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).
What is being investigated
The FCCPC said the probe will cover Big Tech companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms operating in Nigeria. Specifically named by the NPO are Meta, Alphabet, X (formerly Twitter), and certain Generative AI platforms.
Key areas of concern include:
- Allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive conduct
- Unauthorised extraction and commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials, and other journalistic content for training AI models
- Lack of equitable commercial engagement between global tech firms and Nigerian news publishers, including denial of fair compensation for the use of their content
The directive to the FCCPC was conveyed in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
FCCPC speaks
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to 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,” Bello said.
He clarified that the inquiry is not a presumption of wrongdoing.
“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,” he added.
The FCCPC stated it will determine whether the practices in question constitute a breach of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.
Background
The Commission noted it previously investigated Meta and in 2025 won a landmark case for violations including data breach, for which Meta was fined $220 million. Meta has appealed the fine.
The release also cited a similar development in South Africa, where Google agreed to compensate South African news media with R688 million ($40 million) annually for three to five years following an investigation by the South African Competition Commission.
The FCCPC said the investigation “promises to open a new vista in Nigeria’s media history” amid growing concerns over the impact of digital platforms on the sustainability of the country’s news ecosystem.