In a recent legal filing, Meta said it might have no choice but to suspend Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria if local authorities push ahead with what it described as “unrealistic” demands. The tech giant is currently grappling with fines exceeding $290 million, imposed last year by three Nigerian regulatory bodies—an unprecedented move that’s shaken the company’s operations in the West African nation.
Among the fines are a $220 million penalty from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged anti-competitive practices, a $37.5 million sanction from Nigeria’s advertising watchdog for running unapproved ads, and a $32.8 million charge from the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) over alleged data privacy violations.
The high court in Abuja recently ruled against Meta’s attempt to contest these penalties, ordering the company to pay up by the end of June.
In court documents, Meta hinted at a drastic measure: pulling Facebook and Instagram out of Nigeria to “mitigate the risk of enforcement measures.” The messaging app WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, was notably left out of the statement.
For millions of Nigerians, especially small business owners and digital entrepreneurs, this threat feels like a punch to the gut. Facebook remains Nigeria’s most-used social media platform, serving as both a digital marketplace and a vital communication tool for individuals and organizations alike.
“It’s not just about memes or messaging—this is where many of us run our businesses,” said Yinka Ajayi, a Lagos-based fashion entrepreneur who sells her products exclusively on Facebook and Instagram. “If they go offline, it’s like closing my shop without notice.”
The heart of the dispute appears to lie with the NDPC’s interpretation of data protection laws. The commission has demanded that Meta obtain prior approval before transferring users’ personal data outside the country—a requirement Meta calls “unworkable” and inconsistent with global tech standards.
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Beyond that, the NDPC wants Meta to collaborate with Nigerian educational institutions and NGOs to create instructional videos warning users about the dangers of data misuse, such as potential health and financial risks. These videos would need to be linked through a visible icon on Meta’s platforms. Meta, however, insists these stipulations are vague and not grounded in a clear legal framework.
Adamu Abdullahi, head of the FCCPC, defended the coordinated regulatory action, saying investigations conducted between May 2021 and December 2023 exposed harmful data practices affecting Nigerian consumers, though he offered few specifics.
Still, Meta argues that it’s being treated unfairly and claims that authorities have misread the law. “Our concern is not with regulation itself but with the misapplication of that regulation in ways that could set back Nigeria’s digital economy,” the company said.
As the clock ticks toward the court-mandated payment deadline, Nigerians are left wondering whether their favorite platforms will soon go dark.
For now, Meta’s next move remains unclear, and requests for comment from the company have gone unanswered. But what’s clear is that this standoff has placed Nigeria at the center of a broader global debate: how do nations regulate Big Tech without stifling access, innovation, and the digital livelihoods of their citizens?
