Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned it may shut down access to these platforms in Nigeria following over $290 million in fines imposed by Nigerian regulators in 2023.
The fines stem from alleged violations of data privacy, anti-competitive practices, and unauthorized advertising.
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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) slapped Meta with a $220 million penalty for anti-competitive behavior and data privacy breaches.
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) added a $37.5 million fine for unapproved ads, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) issued a $32.8 million sanction for mishandling user data.
The NDPC also demanded Meta obtain prior approval for transferring personal data abroad and produce government-approved educational content on data privacy risks, requirements Meta called “unrealistic.”
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Meta challenged the fines in Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja but lost. The court upheld the penalties, ordering payment by June 2025.
In response, Meta hinted it might block Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to avoid enforcement, though it did not mention WhatsApp.
