The Federal Government directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate major technology companies. President Bola Tinubu issued the order on Monday following a petition from Nigerian media organisations.
The Nigerian Press Organisation submitted the joint petition. The group represents newspaper publishers, broadcasters, journalists, and online publishers.
It accused companies including Meta, Alphabet, X, and generative artificial intelligence platforms of anti-competitive practices. These actions allegedly undermined fair competition and weakened Nigerian media organisations.
The commission will examine claims of market dominance. It will also probe alleged unauthorised scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news content. Additionally, the investigation will review practices that affected the rights of publishers and content creators.
FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs Ondaje Ijagwu confirmed the scope in a statement. He said the probe would determine violations of Nigerian competition and copyright laws.
This directive built on earlier FCCPC efforts. The commission previously imposed penalties on Meta platforms for discriminatory practices. Officials stressed that the new investigation would remain transparent. They promised all parties an opportunity to respond.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission planned to conduct an independent review. Results of the probe would guide future regulatory steps to protect local media and ensure fair market practices. The process followed the provisions of the 2018 Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
