Meta Platforms Inc. has announced it may shut down Facebook and Instagram operations in Nigeria following mounting pressure from regulatory fines and what it describes as “unrealistic” data and advertising laws in the country.
The social media giant, which also owns WhatsApp, revealed the threat on Thursday after losing a legal bid at the Abuja High Court to overturn multi-agency penalties totalling over $290 million.
In 2024, three Nigerian regulatory bodies — the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, — fined Meta for separate breaches of national laws.
The FCCPC imposed the largest fine of $220 million, accusing Meta of anti-competitive conduct that allegedly harmed local digital markets and undermined fair business practices.
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ARCON followed with a $37.5 million fine for advertising without regulatory clearance, stating that Meta displayed ads that did not meet national guidelines or approval requirements.
The NDPC issued an additional $32.8 million fine, citing “persistent violations” of Nigeria’s data protection regulations, including the unauthorised transfer of citizens’ personal data abroad.
“The investigations conducted from May 2021 to December 2023 uncovered invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria,” said Adamu Abdullahi, Chief Executive of the FCCPC.
He added, “These findings were the result of joint efforts between our agency and the NDPC, and we remain committed to protecting Nigerian consumers.”
In court, Meta claimed that Nigeria’s data laws were being “misinterpreted” by regulators, particularly regarding rules on cross-border data transfer and user consent.
“We are committed to respecting local laws, but the NDPC’s requirements to seek prior approval for data transfers are not aligned with global data flow practices,” the company’s legal representative argued in filings.
The NDPC further mandated that Meta must produce and distribute educational content to Nigerian users on the risks of data misuse, working in partnership with government-approved institutions.
According to the commission, the videos must clearly explain “manipulative and unfair data processing” and its implications on users’ health and financial wellbeing.
Meta described this directive as disproportionate and logistically unworkable, asserting that it had not been applied to other foreign technology firms operating in the region.
Despite the court ruling against Meta, WhatsApp — also owned by the company — was not mentioned in the statement, leading to uncertainty over whether the app would also be affected.
Facebook remains Nigeria’s most popular social media platform, serving tens of millions of users for communication, information sharing, and small business operations.
Many Nigerian entrepreneurs expressed concern online, fearing that a shutdown could devastate their businesses that rely on Meta’s platforms for marketing and sales.
Meta has until the end of June to comply with the ruling and pay the imposed fines or risk facing a ban or forced withdrawal from the Nigerian market.
