The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently intervene to safeguard Nigeria’s information sovereignty, warning that the unchecked dominance of global digital platforms poses a serious threat to journalism, democracy and national stability.
In a detailed statement titled “Preserving Nigeria’s Information Sovereignty: Why the Federal Government Must Act to Secure the Nigerian Press in the Digital Age,” the umbrella body said Nigeria has reached a critical turning point in its democratic and digital evolution.
The NPO, which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), said decisions taken now would shape the future of journalism, social cohesion and democratic governance for decades.
According to the organisation, global digital platforms now dominate Nigeria’s digital advertising market, determine content visibility through foreign-controlled algorithms and monetise Nigerian news content without proportionate reinvestment in local journalism.
“This is not a conventional market disruption,” the NPO said, describing the situation as the emergence of “private, transnational gatekeepers over public discourse” operating beyond effective national democratic accountability.
National security implications
The organisation warned that the weakening of professional journalism has far-reaching consequences beyond media economics, particularly for social cohesion and internal security in Nigeria’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
It noted that when trusted news institutions decline, misinformation and disinformation thrive, fueling polarisation, insecurity and grievance mobilisation. “No counterterrorism, policing or intelligence framework can fully compensate for a collapsed information order,” the statement said.
On democratic governance, the NPO stressed that credible elections and public accountability depend on reliable information, cautioning that algorithm-driven virality exposes democratic processes to distortion, foreign influence and coordinated falsehoods.
Economic pressure and job losses
The NPO also highlighted the economic strain on media organisations, noting that press freedom cannot survive on constitutional guarantees alone without economic viability.
According to the body, declining revenues have already resulted in newsroom contractions, job losses and erosion of professional standards, leading to a loss of skilled labour and institutional memory that would be difficult to rebuild.
It described journalism as “strategic national infrastructure,” comparable to education, public health and the judiciary, arguing that its outputs — verified facts, investigative reporting and balanced analysis — are public goods that deserve protection.
Global precedents cited
The organisation pointed out that Nigeria would not be acting in isolation, citing steps taken by other democracies to regulate digital gatekeepers.
It referenced the European Union and the United Kingdom’s competition and digital market rules, Australia’s bargaining framework between platforms and news publishers, Canada’s legislation mandating compensation for news content, and South Africa’s move towards enforceable remedies following a competition inquiry.
“These actions demonstrate a clear global consensus that sovereign states must protect the integrity of their information systems,” the NPO said.
Call for Nigerian-designed framework.
The NPO urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to adopt a Nigerian-designed legal framework, either through existing digital laws or targeted amendments, to recognise journalism as a public-interest activity, correct bargaining power imbalances and ensure fair remuneration for Nigerian news content.
It noted that existing institutions such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) already have the statutory powers to enforce proportionate remedies against abuse of dominance.
Describing its appeal as a call for leadership rather than protectionism, the NPO warned that the cost of inaction would be paid through weakened institutions, diminished public trust and increased misinformation.
“Protecting the Nigerian press is not an industry rescue; it is an investment in national stability, democratic durability and Nigeria’s standing as a constitutional democracy,” the statement concluded.
The statement was jointly signed by NPAN President, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba; BON Chairman, Comrade Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos; GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu; and NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya.
