Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has issued a stern warning that it may suspend both platforms in Nigeria if it is forced to pay nearly $290 million in fines levied by Nigerian regulatory authorities.
This threat follows a failed legal attempt to contest the penalties, which must be paid by June 2025, according to court filings obtained by the BBC.
In July 2024, Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused Meta of violating local consumer and data protection laws, particularly regarding the company’s data-sharing practices on Facebook and WhatsApp. The FCCPC’s acting Executive Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, stated that Meta denied Nigerian users control over their personal data, shared data without consent, and abused its dominant market position.
The Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the penalties in April 2025, rejecting Meta’s appeal and reaffirming the deadline for payment. Meta’s court filings indicated that the company views the regulatory conditions as “unrealistic,” citing issues with the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) mandates, which include pre-approval for cross-border personal data transfers and adding an icon linking to government-approved educational videos on data practices.
With Facebook being Nigeria’s dominant social media platform, widely used for communication, news, and business, a potential shutdown of the platform could severely impact millions of users and businesses relying on it. This ongoing conflict underscores the tension between global tech giants and local regulatory frameworks in emerging markets.
