By Emmanuel Kwada
Nigerians could soon be cut off from Facebook and Instagram as their parent company, Meta, warns it may shut down services in the country to avoid hefty fines and what it calls “unrealistic” regulatory demands.
The U.S.-based social media giant is facing a staggering $290 million (£218m) in penalties from three Nigerian agencies, a burden that has pushed the company to the brink of a dramatic exit.
The fines, imposed last year, stem from alleged violations of competition, advertising, and data privacy laws. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) slapped Meta with a $220 million penalty for anti-competitive practices, while the advertising regulator added $37.5 million for unapproved ads.
The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) rounded out the trio with a $32.8 million fine, accusing Meta of breaching data privacy regulations.
Meta’s latest attempt to overturn these decisions crumbled in the Federal High Court in Abuja, prompting the company to hint at drastic measures.
The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) rounded out the trio with a $32.8 million fine, accusing Meta of breaching data privacy regulations
“The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” Meta stated in court documents. The company has until the end of June to pay up—or face the consequences.
For Nigeria, where Facebook reigns as the dominant social media platform, the stakes are enormous. Tens of millions rely on it for daily communication, news, and small business operations.
A shutdown would ripple through the nation’s digital economy and social fabric. Notably, Meta’s statement spared WhatsApp, its widely used messaging app, leaving its fate in Nigeria unclear.
Investigation with the NDPC, spanning May 2021 to December 2023, which uncovered “invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria
The regulatory showdown has been brewing since July 2024, when the fines were first announced. FCCPC chief Adamu Abdullahi pointed to a joint investigation with the NDPC, spanning May 2021 to December 2023, which uncovered “invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria.” Details remain vague, but Meta has fired back, arguing that the NDPC is misinterpreting data privacy laws.
At the heart of the dispute is the NDPC’s demand that Meta obtain prior approval before transferring Nigerian users’ personal data abroad—a requirement the company deems “unrealistic.”
The agency also mandated an icon linking to educational videos on data privacy risks, produced with government-approved partners, to warn users about “manipulative and unfair data processing” tied to health and financial dangers. Meta dismissed these conditions as impractical, accusing the NDPC of overreach.
As the deadline looms, Nigerians await Meta’s next move. The BBC reached out to the company for clarification but has yet to receive a response. With the clock ticking, the potential loss of Facebook and Instagram hangs over a nation deeply intertwined with the platforms—leaving millions to wonder how they’ll stay connected if Meta pulls the plug.
