President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations that they are exploiting the content of Nigerian media organisations and engaging in anti-competitive practices.

The directive followed a petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), a coalition comprising 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).

According to the FCCPC, the investigation will focus on technology giants including Meta, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, X (formerly Twitter), and other Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission said the investigation was initiated following concerns that some digital platforms may have violated Nigeria’s competition laws while benefiting commercially from the work of local media organisations.
For years, Nigerian publishers have argued that global technology companies profit from news content produced at significant cost without providing fair financial returns to the organisations responsible for creating it.

The FCCPC said the inquiry would examine allegations of anti-competitive conduct, abuse of market dominance and the unauthorised extraction, scraping and commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic works for the development and training of Generative AI models.

The Commission will also investigate claims that Nigerian publishers have been denied meaningful opportunities to negotiate fair licensing agreements and appropriate compensation for the use of their content.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the investigation would be transparent, impartial and guided solely by evidence.

“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. Our responsibility is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent and consistent with Nigerian law,” Bello said.

He emphasised that the investigation should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt against any company.
“This inquiry is not directed at any entity by presumption of wrongdoing. Rather, it is an opportunity to carefully examine the facts, hear from all affected parties and determine whether any conduct has resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices. Every party will have a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached,” he added.

The FCCPC said it would determine whether the alleged practices breach the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 or any other applicable legislation.

The probe comes at a time when governments across the world are introducing measures to ensure technology companies compensate publishers for the use of news content. In South Africa, for example, Google agreed to pay local news organisations hundreds of millions of rand annually following regulatory intervention.

The Nigerian investigation also follows the FCCPC’s recent legal battle with Meta, which resulted in a $220 million penalty over alleged violations of Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws, including data privacy breaches. The company is challenging the decision on appeal.
If the investigation confirms the allegations, it could significantly reshape the relationship between global technology companies and Nigeria’s media industry, while setting new standards for digital competition, copyright protection and the commercial use of journalistic content.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the apex students governing body, has issued a four days ultimatum to South African business interests to evacuate Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by Comrade Amb. Bestman Okereafor, NANS National Executive Director, Cooperate and Private Sectors Engagement.

The statement said that after the expiration of the ultimatum, South African business interests would face full wrath of the over 43.1 million Nigerian students scattered in the nooks and crannies of the country.

“The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa.

“As the biggest students body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.

“The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” it said.

The statement further noted that immediately after expiration of the ultimatum, NANS will consider picketing South Africa business interests, while further actions will follow.”

It called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Union (AU) to take more decisive actions against South Africa for their inimical acts towards other Africans.

“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in support of South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be paid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” it added.

It would be recalled that xenophobic attack by South Africans on other Africans for some months had led to Nigerians being physically assaulted, embarrassed, intimidated, injured and some gruesomely murdered.

Several Nigeria business interests and business premises, owned by law abiding Nigerians in South Africa, had been completely burnt down or destroyed by rampaging South Africans without any justification.

The alleged perpetrators of these crimes had earlier given Nigerians and other Africans an ultimatum of June 30 to leave South Africa.

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had in recent weeks airlifted hundreds of Nigerians, who are willing to leave the unfriendly country and her people, free of charge back to Nigeria.

However, some of those, who returned to Nigeria recently, left South Africa barely with the cloth they put on, losing savings, valuables and businesses they set up or acquired after many years.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned the manner Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji was arrested at the weekend in Enugu by alleged security operatives.

Aghaji, an internationally acclaimed cardiothoracic surgeon, renowned academic, distinguished statesman and one of Nigeria’s foremost medical icons, was reportedly taken from his residence in the early hours of Friday, July 3.

Sources stated that Aghaji’s arrest might not be unconnected with the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Aghaji is Kanu’s personal doctor.

Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor had taken to his Twitter handle at the weekend to alert about the arrest of Aghaji, alleging that it must be in connection with medical report he issued on Kanu.

The Enugu branch of the NMA had convened State Officers Council (SOC) at the weekend on receiving information about the development.

A communiqué from the meeting signed by the State Chairman, Dr Sunday Okafor and Secretary, Dr Chima Edeoga, while decrying the manner ’f the arrest, recognised the constitutional responsibilities of security agencies, but maintained however that every citizen deserved to be treated with dignity and in accordance with due process.

The doctors stated that upon receiving reports from concerned medical elders and members of the Association, the leadership of NMA Enugu State commenced extensive engagements with relevant government and security authorities to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“These engagements included the Office of the Security Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State, the Nigeria Police Force through both the Divisional Police Officer, Independence Layout Division, and the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, the Department of State Services (DSS), as well as other relevant Stakeholders”, the statement said

Explaining that “specific reasons for his arrest have not been officially communicated”, they resolved to convene an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) of all members of the Association to fully deliberate on the development and collectively determine appropriate professional and lawful actions.

They resolved to continue engaging all relevant authorities with a view to securing the immediate release of Professor Aghaji or ensuring that his constitutional rights are fully protected, including access to his family, legal representation and necessary medical care where applicable.

“To formally notify the National Officers’ Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association and request immediate clarification and coordinated advocacy in the interest of justice and the protection of members of the medical profession”, he said.

The Association said It remained committed to lawful engagement and constructive dialogue while closely monitoring developments.

“We assure all members that every legitimate effort is being deployed to protect the rights and welfare of our distinguished colleague”, the statement said, while requesting its members to remain calm, united and vigilant and await further directives from the Association.