This report was produced with support from the Pulitzer Center and is part of the African stage of The Invisible Hand of Big Techs, a transnational investigation led by Agência Pública and the Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (CLIP).
In February 2025, representatives from three of the world's most powerful tech companies met with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC). Meta, Microsoft, and Google attended the meeting todiscussa collaboration with the national government. Vincent Olatunji, head of the commission, expressed satisfaction "with the prospect of collaborating with global tech giants." He emphasized the importance of "synergy between the public, private sectors, civil society groups, and academia."
At the time, Meta was embroiled in a dispute with Nigerian regulatory bodies over how it handled the personal data of millions of people. In July 2024, another regulator in the country, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), hadfined Meta and WhatsApp $220 million, following an38-month investigationThe body concluded that Nigerians had insufficient control over how their data was collected, shared, and used.
Instead of paying the fine, Metaappealed the decision and lostSubsequently, the company of Mark Zuckerbergthreatenedto suspend its services.Despite the 60-day deadline for payment, which ended in June 2025, Meta continues to operate normally while the legal deadlock remains unsolved.
Just days after the February 2025 meeting with NDPC was made public, the agency itself imposed another fine of US$ 32.8 million on Meta.
In the following months, however, the fine of US$ 32.8 million was"derrubada" translates to "overthrow" in English.According to a report:Premium Times investigationA deal canceled the penalty, as well as eight requirements to be met by Meta, freeing the company from obligations stemming from the case. The site reported that various specific regulatory demands were replaced by broader commitments from Meta to comply with Nigerian data protection laws and strengthen its data protection measures.
Then, the same NDPCIt announced:That, "in collaboration with Meta," had translated the Nigerian Data Protection Act into local languages.
On [date], a significant event took place in [location], marking a milestone in the field of [industry/sector]. The [event/conference/meeting] gathered renowned experts and professionals to discuss cutting-edge innovations and trends. Highlights of the event included [mention key points, speeches, or presentations], emphasizing the importance of [main theme or topic]. The participation of [mention notable individuals or organizations] added depth and expertise to the discussions. Attendees left the event with a newfound perspective, inspired by the shared knowledge and the potential for future collaborations. This gathering served as a platform for networking, idea exchange, and the advancement of [industry/sector] in [region/country].May 2026Another government agency launched theGovGuide NigeriaA bot of artificial intelligence, developed using Meta's technology, to help Nigerians navigate public services.
The text: "O [newspaper name] relata que, segundo fontes próximas ao caso, a investigação sobre o incidente que ocorreu na [location] no último [date] está avançando. As autoridades confirmaram que estão analisando evidências e ouvindo testemunhas para elucidar o ocorrido."The Continent (Journalistic Text)She asked Meta and Nigerian government agencies when discussions about GovGuide began. In Nigeria, companies are not required to register such meetings in a register. There is no public record showing which companies are seeking government authorities, what they want from them, or what is discussed behind closed doors.
Therefore,The Continentbegan to build this information base.
Our investigation identified at least 17 documented public interactions between major tech companies and the Nigerian state since 2024.They include meetings with the country's president, Bola Tinubu, and regulatory bodies, as well as meetings about government artificial intelligence projects, training programs, funding, and discussions about public policies.
Many of these interactions are routine contacts between the government and companies operating in one of Africa's largest digital markets. But others bring tech companies into closer contact with institutions responsible for deciding how they should operate in Nigeria.
The Meta case highlights the responsibility of regulatory bodies.
The text provided is incomplete, so here is the translation based on what was given: "The article:"Text: main sectionThe concern among various Nigerian bodies was that WhatsApp users did not have enough options regarding what was done with their data. The information collected about people can be used to create profiles of their interests and behaviors and, among other things, determine what ads they receive.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is alsoIt concluded.That Meta shared and transferred personal information of Nigerians without proper authorization and offered local users less protection for their data than users in some other countries.
GovGuide raises issues related to the same problem. The artificial intelligence-powered platform helps Nigerians find and understand government information through text, voice, and WhatsApp in English, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo.
But yourprivacy noticestates that the platform may collect names, contact data, addresses, government-issued identifiers, geolocation, device information, and IP addresses, as well as commands sent by users to the chatbot, documents, images, audios, and conversation records. This information may be used to personalize services, conduct analyses and surveys, and improve the chatbot and machine learning models.
The privacy specialist Olumide Babalola, who acted as counsel in the caseOdunola Kehinde v. Vesti, alawsuitinvolving alleged unauthorized data disclosures, emphasizes that the NDPC v. Meta case primarily concerned the way the company handled Nigerian data.
"The Nigerian data protection regulatory framework generally prohibits the processing of personal data, except where there is a legal basis for doing so," explains Babalola.
Without any documentation to the contrary, Meta has no legal basis to use citizen data in a non-disclosed manner. In the case of GovGuide, the context is completely different.Citizens are interacting with what they believe is a government service, not a public social network.The presumption should be that any data processing strictly occurs with the sole purpose of providing this governmental service, unless explicit and informed consent is obtained for any other use.
The NDPC was also questioned about whether the proposed collaboration with Meta, mentioned at the beginning of the report and discussed in the February 2025 meeting, progressed while the ongoing privacy case against the company was active and during its subsequent agreement. Neither the involved agencies nor Meta responded to questions about GovGuide or the collaboration. The records of the 17 interactions collected byThe Continent (Journalistic Text)The text shows that regulatory measures and discussions about collaboration took place during the same period, but they do not prove that both were related.
More Partnerships with Big Techs
Among the 17 interactions between Big Techs and the Nigerian state identified by the report in the last three years, there are records of funding, training, meetings with high-level officials, technology projects, and relations with regulatory bodies.
It is difficult to determine the true extent of interactions between the government, regulatory bodies, and Big Techs due to the lack of a single record of official meetings. Many of the agreements that underpin these partnerships are also not public, leaving only a partial picture of how deeply Big Techs have integrated themselves into Nigeria's digital ambitions.
Ali Sabo, head of Digital Rights at the NGO Centre for Information Technology and Development (Citad), describes the relationship between companies and the government as a "subtle influence."
While their projects may contribute to national development, these companies also silently shape how policymakers view technology and governance.
If there is no control, Sabo warns,Partnerships need to be transparent, protected by clear safeguards, and open to the participation of universities, civil society organizations, and local tech developers.In October 2024, the Nigerian government entered into a partnership with the pan-African organization Data Science Nigeria to announce a donation of
In October 2024, the Nigerian government partnered with Data Science Nigeria, a pan-African entity, to announce a donation ofApproximately $2 millionFrom Google to national talent development programs in artificial intelligence linked to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
Among the implemented programs were the DeepTech Ready Track, targeting 20,000 advanced students; the Experience AI program for teachers, aiming to reach 25,000 teachers and 125,000 students; and the Government AI Campus for public servants. These programs aim to familiarize thousands of Nigerians with specific tools, certification programs, and software ecosystems early on.
However, according to analysts interviewed for the report, these companies are, in practice, securing clients for their ecosystems.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google's West Africa Communication and Public Relations Manager, stated that the company's products use "state-of-the-art technology" to protect user data and cited privacy controls, the company's registration with the NDPC, and the appointment of a data protection officer. However, he did not disclose where data generated by public sector programs is stored, for how long it is kept, or if it can be used to enhance commercial AI products.
In 2025, Microsoft formed a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Data Science Nigeria, and the Lagos Business School, located in Nigeria's capital. The institutions launched the AI National Skills Initiative (AINSI) with the goal of empowering35,000People in artificial intelligence. Participants also received certificates linked to the national program 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT).3MTTAnotherpartnershipbetween Microsoft and the NGO Junior Achievement Nigeria (JA Nigeria) introduced thousands of young students to the basics of generative artificial intelligence.
Grace, a student at the Federal University of Technology Akure, participated in the Microsoft/JA Nigeria Career Essentials AI program and received free access to Microsoft Copilot and LinkedIn Premium. Later, she and other participants took the program to students on another campus. But her experience also shows how the company introduces young people to its broader technological ecosystem, beyond artificial intelligence.
When asked about privacy and data access, Microsoft provided numbers on enrollments, learning activities, and certifications.However, the company did not disclose commercial agreements, contract values, public procurement information, or licensing terms requested.Regarding the role of their own products in training, the company stated: "Certain training paths may include Microsoft technologies, when relevant to the curriculum."
The technology analyst Eze Hanson considers these programsA combination of strategic philanthropy and workforce development, but it warns of hidden risks."The integration of a set of developer networks, certification paths, and job search platforms with state-supported mass training can be seen as a way to create a loyal user base and standardize the national dependency on technological infrastructure," explains Hanson.
This concern stands in contrast to Nigeria's own ambitions to achieve greater digital independence. The country is attempting to gain more control over its data and digital infrastructure. However, it does so while becoming increasingly dependent on the companies that provide money, training, and technology for this transformation. Many of the agreements that define these relationships remain out of the public's reach.
"When the government enters into partnerships with multinational companies to handle data and public services, the public has a right to know the terms of the agreement," said Adekunle Omolabi, a civil society activist for transparency.
For now, the ads are public, but much of what was agreed upon behind the scenes is not.