Classical economic theories, from O.A. Lawal's foundational texts on the factors of production to Adam Smith's principles of wealth creation and Karl Marx's emphasis on labour, are being challenged by the current digital revolution, particularly in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In Nigeria's media landscape, the digital economy has transformed from a fair marketplace into what can be described as a modern enclosure movement. Global technology conglomerates are leveraging intellectual commons, specifically journalistic content, for profit without compensating the original creators.
Firms providing the infrastructure for AI development are reaping substantial rewards, mirroring the historical profiteering of merchants during a gold rush. As of early 2026, the majority of AI-driven wealth creation is concentrated in Silicon Valley. This is evidenced by the top rankings on the Forbes list, with figures like Elon Musk, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg accumulating vast fortunes, a scale of wealth unlikely to be matched by any single Nigerian publisher.
The independent Nigerian press has long been a cornerstone of the nation's democracy. Journalists have diligently documented the country's realities, often at personal risk. The economic, legal, and physical costs associated with uncovering and reporting the truth are borne by these journalists and their publishers.
However, the present situation sees Silicon Valley tech giants treating the fruits of this labour as free raw material, fueling immense wealth for individuals like Elon Musk and his associates.
It is imperative that action be taken. Large technology and AI firms must be compelled to share the substantial value derived from their use of Nigerian content with the human journalists and publishers who produce it. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has a legal and patriotic duty to rectify this imbalance.
These companies are presently extracting decades of Nigerian reporting to train AI systems capable of replicating local nuances, summarizing investigative journalism, and answering questions about Nigerian politics. When users query AI about crucial matters like the Central Bank of Nigeria's monetary policies or infrastructure development, the associated value accrues solely to the tech firm. The original news organizations, which incurred the costs of journalism, are left with minimal returns.
In an era marked by widespread misinformation and sophisticated deepfakes, producing credible journalism is increasingly costly. In Nigeria, truth- telling is a vital service to the state, often undertaken amidst business volatility and economic instability. Big Tech and AI firms, however, convert these essential resources into staggering profits, an outcome that is both unfair and ethically questionable.
When AI models utilize archives of Nigerian newspapers, they are not just acquiring data; they are absorbing specialized local knowledge and hard-won public trust. If these firms continue to exploit this content without a revenue-sharing mechanism, they risk undermining the very sources that ensure their AI models' accuracy. Should Nigerian newsrooms collapse due to a lack of sustainable revenue, AI models would be forced to generate fabricated information in the absence of factual data. The accuracy of AI is fundamentally dependent on the human effort and bravery that informs it.
Nigerian stories are national assets. If an AI firm generates billions in profit by utilizing Nigerian reporting, a portion of that value must be returned to the sources as a matter of right, not charity. This is not merely about corporate profits; it is about the continued existence of the Nigerian press.
To transition from exploitation to equity, a framework incorporating transparent licensing, usage royalties, and algorithmic transparency is essential. Nations such as Australia, Canada, and South Africa have already begun implementing similar measures. The Nigerian government, through its regulatory bodies, specifically the FCCPC and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy led by Bosun Tijani, must provide the necessary regulatory support for this endeavor.
The media industry must unite to overcome this challenge. Individual media outlets acting alone cannot successfully confront the immense power of Silicon Valley. Collective bargaining power is crucial to ensure that 'innovation' does not become a mere pretext for uncompensated appropriation.
The long-held notion of the internet as a 'free and open' space has largely benefited those who control the infrastructure. While information distribution can be open, the production of verified information is resource-intensive, requiring labor, capital, and entrepreneurship – the very elements Adam Smith identified centuries ago – and this production must be financially compensated.
Big Tech companies must be brought to the negotiation table. The FCCPC, under the leadership of Tunji Bello, should exercise its authority immediately. Innovation is vital for future progress, but it should not be built upon the illicit acquisition of intellectual labor. To develop genuinely intelligent systems, tech giants must operate ethically by recognizing and remunerating the human investment behind their data sets.
Our message is clear: the predatory practices of Big Tech must cease. Those who profit from repurposing creative content must compensate the original creators. This is about adhering to the fundamental principles of a fair market: value for value, and respect for the productive and creative labor that drives human advancement.
Segun Adediran, CEO of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, can be reached at [email protected]
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