The Federal Government has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate X, formerly Twitter, Meta, other major technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) firms over alleged anti-media and anti-competitive practices in Nigeria.
The directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), a coalition comprising 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).
Petition raises concerns over digital platforms
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the government’s directive in a letter to the FCCPC. He asked the commission to investigate the allegations contained in the petition.
According to the petition, companies including Meta, Alphabet, X and some Generative AI platforms engage in practices that could undermine fair competition. The media organisations also alleged that the companies threaten the commercial viability of Nigerian publishers and affect the rights of content creators.
The petition further raised concerns about market dominance, the alleged unauthorised scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news content to train Generative AI models, and the absence of fair commercial agreements between global technology firms and Nigerian news publishers.
FCCPC promises independent investigation
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said the commission would conduct an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation into the allegations.
He said, “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 inquiry should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt against any organisation.
He added, “All parties will have the opportunity to present their positions before any conclusions are reached.”
According to him, the commission will determine whether any of the alleged conduct violated the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.
Previous case involving Meta
The latest investigation comes after the FCCPC secured a ruling against Meta in 2025 over violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
The case resulted in a $220 million fine against the company. However, Meta appealed the decision.
The outcome of the new investigation could shape the relationship between global technology companies and Nigerian media organisations, particularly as concerns over digital competition and the use of AI-generated content continue to grow.
