Media Stakeholders Urge FG, National Assembly to Safeguard Nigeria’s Information Sovereignty
Media stakeholders operating under the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) have called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently take steps to protect Nigeria’s information sovereignty amid rising digital threats posed by global technology platforms.
In a joint statement issued at the weekend, the stakeholders warned that the rapid dominance of international digital platforms has fundamentally altered Nigeria’s media and information landscape. According to them, global tech companies now control the bulk of digital advertising revenue and determine content visibility through powerful algorithms that are designed, managed and regulated outside the country.
They expressed concern that this situation is steadily eroding the financial sustainability of professional journalism in Nigeria, as local media organisations invest heavily in news gathering, verification and public-interest reporting, yet receive little or no compensation when their content is distributed and monetised on foreign-owned platforms.
The media bodies described the challenge not merely as an economic issue, but as a matter of national security and social stability. They cautioned that the weakening of credible news institutions creates fertile ground for misinformation, disinformation and hate content, which can fuel polarisation, undermine public trust and worsen insecurity across the country.
According to the statement, Nigeria risks losing control of its national conversation if decisive action is not taken. The stakeholders noted that when algorithms operated outside Nigeria determine what citizens see, read or engage with, the country’s democratic discourse becomes vulnerable to commercial interests and foreign influence, with little accountability to local laws or values.
To address the problem, the NPO urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to develop and implement a Nigerian-designed legal and regulatory framework that reflects the country’s realities. Such a framework, they said, should ensure fair remuneration for locally produced news content used by digital platforms, while still encouraging innovation, competition and growth within the digital economy.
They stressed that the goal is not to stifle technology or restrict access to information, but to correct the growing imbalance between global platforms and local media organisations. By doing so, Nigeria would be strengthening its democratic institutions, protecting jobs in the media sector and safeguarding the integrity of its information space.
The stakeholders further called for inclusive consultations involving media professionals, policymakers, regulators, civil society and technology companies to develop sustainable solutions that balance press freedom, digital innovation and national interest.
They concluded by urging Nigerians to pay close attention to the issue, noting that a strong, independent and financially viable media is essential for good governance, accountability and national development.
