The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has welcomed and commended the directive by President Bola Tinubu requesting that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) launch a formal investigation into major global technology companies and generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms operating in Nigeria.
A statement signed by the Deputy President (NPAN/NPO), Frank Aigbogun, noted that this decisive action followed a joint petition submitted to the Federal Government by the NPO, comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).
“When a delegation of the NPO met President Tinubu in March to formally complain about the existential threat posed to the media by Big Tech and AI companies operating in Nigeria, we did so with very serious concern,” the statement said.
“We are therefore pleased that the government has commenced this investigation. Beyond the clear and present danger posed by Big Tech’s anti-competitive behaviour, their lack of transparency and accountability also carries very serious consequences for journalism as a public-interest good.
