Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has issued a stark warning that it may be forced to suspend its services in Nigeria due to what it describes as “unrealistic” regulatory demands by local authorities. The tech giant’s statement comes after Nigerian oversight agencies imposed fines totaling over $290 million (₦218 million) last year, citing violations related to competition, advertising, and data privacy laws.
Despite efforts to overturn these sanctions in Abuja’s Federal High Court, Meta failed to have them annulled. The company has now warned that, unless the fines are settled, it may need to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to avoid enforcement actions. Notably, WhatsApp was not mentioned in the legal filings.
The Nigerian government agencies involved include the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which fined Meta $220 million for anti-competitive practices, and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which imposed a $32.8 million penalty for data privacy violations. Additionally, the advertising regulator levied a $37.5 million fine for running unapproved ads.
The fines and regulatory pressures have significant implications given Nigeria’s extensive social media usage, with millions relying on Facebook for communication, news, and commerce, particularly among small online entrepreneurs.
Meta’s legal submissions expressed concern over the NDPC’s controversial demands, such as requiring prior approval before data transfer out of Nigeria—a condition Meta described as “unrealistic” and misaligned with data protection standards. The company also objected to the NDPC’s directive to display user educational content on data privacy, arguing that these requirements are unfeasible and based on misinterpretations of Nigerian law.
The court has given Meta until the end of June 2025 to settle the fines, and the outcome could have major implications for Nigeria’s digital and social media landscape.
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