The Convener of the Liberty Symposium, Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, has welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major foreign technology companies, digital platforms and generative artificial intelligence providers over allegations relating to the exploitation of Nigerian media content.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Ramalan described the directive as a significant policy step toward addressing anti-competitive practices in Nigeria’s digital media ecosystem and protecting the long-term sustainability of indigenous media organisations.
He said the presidential directive aligns with key resolutions adopted at the 2nd Liberty Symposium, where media stakeholders expressed concern over what they described as the increasing dominance of global digital platforms and its impact on Nigeria’s broadcasting and news industry.
According to him, the symposium warned that foreign technology platforms and AI companies have continued to derive commercial value from Nigerian media content without corresponding benefits for local media organisations, raising concerns about fairness, competition and the future viability of indigenous broadcasters.
“The President’s directive is a welcome development and a major step toward ensuring transparency, accountability and fair competition within Nigeria’s digital economy,” Ramalan said.
“Nigerian media organisations invest heavily in producing credible public-interest journalism. It is therefore important that the commercial use of such content by dominant global digital platforms is conducted within a transparent and equitable regulatory framework.”
He said the symposium had recommended stronger regulatory oversight of global digital platforms operating within Nigeria and called for measures that would promote a level playing field for local media organisations.
Ramalan urged the FCCPC, under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, to conduct what he described as an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation in line with the presidential directive conveyed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
He said the inquiry should examine allegations relating to abuse of market dominance, digital advertising practices, the commercial use of Nigerian media content, artificial intelligence training on locally generated content, and compliance with Nigeria’s competition and media regulatory framework.
Ramalan said similar regulatory interventions in other jurisdictions have demonstrated the importance of balancing technological innovation with fair competition and adequate protection for local media industries.
He pledged the Liberty Symposium’s cooperation with the commission, saying the organisation would make available research findings, industry submissions and other relevant materials that could assist the investigation.
“Our objective is to support the development of a fair, transparent and competitive digital media environment that protects Nigerian media organisations, encourages innovation and advances Nigeria’s national interest,” he said.
The FCCPC is expected to investigate allegations that some dominant global digital platforms have leveraged their market position to commercially benefit from Nigerian media content without adequate transparency, regulatory compliance or equitable value-sharing arrangements.