ABUJA – 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.
According to a statement released by the FCCPC on Tuesday, the directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), made up of 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 directive was conveyed in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, requesting the FCCPC to investigate the allegations raised by the media organisations.
The petition accused companies including Meta, Alphabet, X, and some Generative AI platforms of engaging in practices that could undermine fair competition, weaken the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations, and affect the rights of publishers and content creators.
The FCCPC said its investigation would examine allegations of market dominance, the unauthorised scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news content to train Generative AI models, and concerns over the absence of fair commercial agreements between global technology firms and Nigerian news publishers.
Reacting to the directive, 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.
“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, transparent, and consistent with Nigerian law.”
Bello stressed that the inquiry should not be interpreted as a presumption of wrongdoing against any organisation, adding that all parties involved would be given the opportunity to present their positions before any conclusions are reached.
He also noted that the commission would determine whether any conduct violated the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or any other applicable law.
The FCCPC had previously investigated Meta and secured a ruling in 2025 over violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, resulting in a $220 million fine, which the company has appealed.
