The Federal Government has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate X, formerly known as Twitter, Meta, and other major technology and Artificial Intelligence firms over allegations of anti-competitive practices affecting Nigeria’s media industry.
The directive followed a petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which 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).
In a statement issued on Monday, the FCCPC disclosed that the directive was conveyed through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who requested the commission to investigate claims that some global technology companies may be undermining fair competition and affecting the commercial viability of Nigerian media organisations.
According to the petition, companies including Meta, Alphabet, X and some Generative Artificial Intelligence platforms are allegedly engaging in practices that negatively impact publishers, content creators and media businesses in Nigeria.
The commission said the investigation will examine allegations of market dominance, the unauthorised scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news content for training Generative AI models, as well as concerns over the absence of fair commercial agreements between global technology companies and Nigerian news publishers.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, assured stakeholders that the investigation would be conducted in a transparent, independent and evidence-based manner.
He noted that while the media remains critical to Nigeria’s democracy, technology companies also play a significant role in innovation and economic growth, stressing that the commission’s responsibility is to establish the facts and ensure fairness within the digital ecosystem.
Bello emphasised that the probe should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing, adding that all affected organisations would be given the opportunity to present their positions before any decision is reached.
The FCCPC also recalled that it previously investigated Meta and imposed a 220 million dollar administrative penalty in 2025 over alleged violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, a decision the company has appealed.
Industry observers say the investigation could address longstanding concerns about the influence of global technology firms on local media organisations and content creators.
The outcome of the probe may also shape future regulations aimed at promoting fair competition, protecting intellectual property rights and strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.
