Media Groups Urge FG and National Assembly to Address Foreign Control of Digital Information

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Nigeria’s major media advocacy organisations have called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to urgently intervene in the country’s digital information space. They warn that the dominance of global technology platforms could erode national sovereignty over public discourse and threaten local journalism.

The appeal, made in Abuja in early February 2026, represents a coordinated demand from Nigerian media stakeholders against “foreign digital control” of the nation’s information ecosystem.

The groups argue that powerful global technology companies now control the channels through which most Nigerians access news and public information. Without urgent policy intervention, Nigeria risks surrendering its media economy and democratic space to corporations operating beyond its regulatory reach.

They highlighted the dangerous consequences, stating that as local media institutions weaken, the country could lose effective control over its public discourse and democratic processes.

The coalition consists of leading Nigerian media organisations, including the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria. They have all raised concerns about the impact of digital platforms on local journalism and democracy.

In their statement, they called for:

• Regulatory measures ensuring fair competition between local media and global platforms.
• Financial arrangements or compensation models for news content.
• Stronger enforcement of data-protection and competition laws to support local journalism’s sustainability.

Their appeal signifies a push for legislative or regulatory intervention over voluntary agreements with tech companies.

The outcome of this dispute could profoundly affect Nigeria’s information ecosystem, risking shrinking newsrooms, greater reliance on foreign platforms, and increased vulnerability to misinformation.

The Nigerian media groups’ call reflects not just a domestic concern but a broader struggle over digital sovereignty in a changing global landscape. The future of independent journalism and democratic accountability in Nigeria depends on how the government responds to these pressing challenges.