Millions of Nigerians could soon be cut off from Facebook and Instagram as Meta, the parent company of both platforms, considers halting operations in the country due to escalating legal and regulatory pressures.
Meta is currently embroiled in a dispute with Nigerian authorities over a series of fines totaling over $290 million. These penalties were issued by three different regulatory bodies, citing violations related to competition, advertising, and data privacy laws.
The company recently lost a legal battle in the Federal High Court in Abuja to overturn these sanctions. In court documents, Meta indicated that it may be forced to withdraw its services in Nigeria to avoid enforcement actions, which could involve asset seizures or additional sanctions.
While WhatsApp, another Meta-owned platform, was not mentioned in the filing, the potential removal of Facebook and Instagram would have widespread implications. Facebook is the dominant social media platform in Nigeria, serving tens of millions of users daily for communication, news, and business. Small enterprises across the country rely heavily on it to reach customers and drive sales.
The breakdown of the fines includes:
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A $220 million penalty from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged anti-competitive conduct.
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A $37.5 million fine by the national advertising regulator for running ads without necessary approvals.
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A $32.8 million charge from the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), accusing Meta of breaching local data privacy laws.
According to FCCPC CEO Adamu Abdullahi, investigations conducted between May 2021 and December 2023 uncovered intrusive data practices, although specific details were not disclosed.
Meta has pushed back most strongly against the NDPC, arguing that the commission has misunderstood key elements of data privacy law. A particularly contentious requirement is that Meta must obtain prior approval before transferring Nigerian users’ data outside the country—something the tech giant called “unrealistic.”
The NDPC has also demanded Meta produce educational content on data privacy risks, including videos created in partnership with government-sanctioned academic and nonprofit groups. These materials must warn users about “unfair and manipulative” data practices and the possible financial or health-related consequences.
Meta argues these requirements are both impractical and based on a misinterpretation of Nigerian law. The company has until the end of June to comply with the court’s ruling and pay the fines, or it risks a shutdown of its social media platforms in Nigeria.