The Federal Government has instructed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to probe X, Meta and other major technology and artificial intelligence firms over claims they've engaged in anti-competitive practices harming Nigeria's media sector. The order came after the Nigerian Press Organisation—which includes the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers—submitted a joint petition to the Presidency.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, signed the letter directing the FCCPC to investigate the allegations in the petition. The submission accuses Meta, Alphabet, X and certain generative AI platforms of conduct that could weaken fair competition, threaten the financial health of Nigerian media outlets and violate the rights of publishers and content creators.
The FCCPC will examine whether these companies abused market dominance and whether they unlawfully scraped and commercialised copyrighted news content to train AI systems. The probe will also look at the lack of proper commercial arrangements between these global tech firms and Nigerian news publishers.
Tunji Bello, the FCCPC's executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, said the commission would carry out an independent, transparent and evidence-based probe. "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," he told reporters.
Bello stressed that the investigation shouldn't be seen as proof that any organisation has broken the law. He added that all parties would have the chance to present their side of the story before any verdicts are delivered.
According to him, the FCCPC would determine whether any behaviour breaches the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or other relevant laws. The commission noted it had previously examined Meta and in 2025 handed down a $220 million penalty for alleged violations of the competition law.
Meta has since lodged an appeal against that decision.
