The Federal Government has ordered the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to commence a FCCPC tech investigation into X (formerly Twitter), Meta, Alphabet and several Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies over allegations of anti-competitive practices affecting Nigeria’s media industry. The directive follows complaints from leading media organisations alleging that global technology firms are undermining fair competition and the commercial sustainability of Nigerian publishers.
According to a statement issued by the FCCPC, the investigation was triggered by a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO).
The coalition 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 communicated its directive through a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, instructing the commission to examine the allegations raised by the media bodies.
The petition accuses major technology firms, including Meta, Alphabet, X and several Generative AI platforms, of engaging in practices that could weaken competition within Nigeria’s digital media ecosystem.
Among the concerns raised are allegations of market dominance, the unauthorised scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news content to train Generative AI models, and the absence of equitable commercial agreements between global technology companies and Nigerian news publishers. The media organisations argue that these practices threaten the commercial viability of local publishers while undermining the rights of journalists and content creators.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the commission would conduct an independent, transparent and evidence-driven 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 stressed that the FCCPC tech investigation should not be interpreted as proof of wrongdoing by any organisation.
He explained that all companies involved would be given the opportunity to present their positions before the commission reaches any conclusions. According to him, investigators will determine whether any of the alleged conduct violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or any other applicable Nigerian law.
The latest investigation follows an earlier regulatory action involving Meta. The FCCPC previously investigated the company and, in 2025, secured a ruling over alleged violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, resulting in a $220 million fine. Meta subsequently appealed the decision.
The new investigation signals continued regulatory scrutiny of global technology firms as Nigerian authorities examine concerns relating to digital competition, copyright protection and the relationship between international technology platforms and local media organisations.
