Millions of Nigerians could soon lose access to Facebook and Instagram as parent company Meta Platforms threatens to shut down both services in the country, citing “unrealistic” regulatory demands and hefty fines totaling over $290 million.
Meta’s warning follows failed attempts to overturn penalties imposed by three Nigerian regulatory agencies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the advertising regulator. The fines stem from alleged anti-competitive practices, advertising violations, and breaches of data privacy laws.
The FCCPC issued the largest fine, $220 million, accusing Meta of anti-competitive conduct. Meanwhile, the advertising regulator fined Meta $37.5 million for running unapproved advertisements, and the NDPC levied a $32.8 million fine over alleged data privacy violations.
According to Meta’s court filing, the company is particularly concerned about the NDPC’s interpretation of data laws. The commission insists Meta must obtain prior approval before transferring Nigerian users’ personal data outside the country. Meta argued that such a requirement is unworkable and contradicts global data handling practices.
Additionally, the NDPC has ordered Meta to create an icon linking to educational videos on data privacy risks. These videos must be developed in partnership with Nigerian government-approved educational institutions and NGOs and should highlight potential harms of “manipulative and unfair data processing,” including risks to users’ health and finances.
Meta described these demands as unfeasible and accused the NDPC of misinterpreting Nigeria’s data protection legislation. The company warned that unless a resolution is reached, it may be forced to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to avoid further enforcement actions.
The federal high court in Abuja has given Meta until the end of June to settle the fines. If Meta follows through on its threat, the departure of Facebook and Instagram could severely disrupt communication, digital marketing, and e-commerce in Nigeria, where Facebook alone serves tens of millions of users and is a crucial tool for small online businesses.
Meta has not publicly confirmed its next steps, and further developments are awaited.
