By Ejiofor Toochi
Edited by Ezennia Uche
The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has raised concerns over the future of Nigeria’s media industry in the digital era, warning that the country risks losing control of its information ecosystem if urgent steps are not taken to address the growing dominance of global digital platforms.
In a joint statement signed by five major media bodies; Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) President, and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the NPO said decisions taken by the Presidency and the National Assembly would shape not only the future of journalism in Nigeria but also the country’s social cohesion, national security and democratic governance.
The organisation argued that while digital platforms have expanded access to information, they have also created structural imbalances that threaten the sustainability of professional journalism. According to the statement, global technology companies now dominate digital advertising markets and monetise Nigerian news content at scale without proportionate reinvestment in local news production.
The NPO warned that algorithms controlled outside Nigeria are increasingly determining what Nigerians see, amplify, or ignore, effectively placing public discourse in the hands of private, transnational gatekeepers operating beyond national democratic accountability.
Beyond the media industry, the organisation said the consequences of continued inaction could include weakened institutions and a fragile national cohesion, particularly in Nigeria’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
This appeal comes amid public sensitivity around digital regulation in Nigeria, though the NPO said its proposal is aimed at market correction and fair competition rather than restrictions on access or speech.
The statement read, “This appeal is not a request for protectionism. It is a call for strategic leadership to ensure that Nigeria’s democratic conversation is not quietly outsourced to opaque commercial algorithms beyond national control.
“The cost of inaction will not be borne solely by publishers, broadcasters or journalists. It will be paid in weakened institutions, diminished public trust, rising misinformation, and a more fragile national cohesion.”
As a response, the organisation called for a Nigerian-designed regulatory framework aimed at correcting market imbalances rather than restricting innovation, emphasising the need for fairness, sustainability, and accountability in the digital media space.
The statement identified the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as key institutions with statutory authority to enforce proportionate remedies, including penalties for abuse of market dominance and refusal to negotiate in good faith.
Describing the moment as pivotal, the NPO said history would judge this generation of leaders by whether it recognised the importance of information sovereignty early enough to act. It added that protecting the Nigerian press should be seen as an investment in national stability, democratic durability, and Nigeria’s standing as a constitutional democracy, rather than as an industry bailout.
The organisation also expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Federal Government, the National Assembly, regulators, broadcasters, editors, civil society groups, and technology companies to develop what it described as a fair, forward-looking, and distinctly Nigerian solution.
“The moment to act is now!”NPO concluded.
