Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has threatened to restrict access to both social platforms in Nigeria following hefty penalties imposed by local regulatory authorities.
Last year, three Nigerian regulatory agencies slammed the U.S.-based tech giant with cumulative fines exceeding $290 million for various alleged violations of national laws and regulations.
Meta recently contested the sanctions at a High Court in Abuja, but the court ruled against the company, mandated that it settle the fines by the end of June 2025.
While Meta also owns the popular messaging platform WhatsApp, the company’s planned restrictions do not include the app.
Facebook remain Nigeria’s leading social media network, serving millions of users daily for communication, news dissemination, and e-commerce. The platform also plays a critical role in the livelihoods of many small businesses and content creators.
Breakdown of the Fines:
- Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC): $220 million for alleged anti-competitive practices.
- Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON): $37.5 million for unauthorized advertising.
- Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC): $32.8 million for violating data privacy laws.
FCCPC Chief Executive Officer, Adamu Abdullahi, said joint investigations with the NDPC from May 2021 to December 2023 revealed “invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria,” though he did not detail the specific infractions.
Meta, in its court filings, expressed particular concern with the NDPC’s ruling, accusing the commission of misinterpreting data privacy laws. One of the NDPC’s conditions required Meta to secure user consent before transferring personal data outside Nigeria an obligation the tech firm deems “unrealistic.”
The commission also instructed Meta to collaborate with government-approved institutions and NGOs to create educational content on data privacy risks, highlighting potential health and financial threats from “manipulative and unfair data processing.”
A potential shutdown of Facebook and Instagram could seriously impact digital creators and businesses dependent on the platforms for income and visibility.
As Meta’s deadline to pay the fines looms, stakeholders across Nigeria’s digital economy are anxiously watching the unfolding standoff.
