The Federal Government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has responded to reports that Meta Platforms Inc. — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — is considering leaving Nigeria following a hefty regulatory fine exceeding N200 million.
Meta had earlier expressed concerns about what it described as excessive demands and penalties from Nigerian authorities. The company, which has begun efforts to challenge the fines in court, also hinted at the possibility of shutting down its services in Nigeria if the situation isn’t resolved.
Reacting to these developments, the FCCPC has accused Meta of attempting to sway public sentiment and place pressure on the regulatory commission. In a statement signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC’s Director of Public Affairs, the agency described Meta’s move as “a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.”
The FCCPC stated that both Meta and WhatsApp, collectively termed as “Meta Parties,” were investigated for allegedly breaching the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). According to the commission, its findings revealed that the tech company committed multiple infractions, including denying Nigerians control over their personal data, unlawfully transferring user information abroad, discriminating against Nigerian users, and misusing its market dominance by enforcing unfair privacy terms.
The statement went on to point out that similar penalties had been handed to Meta in other countries. It noted, “Meta had been fined for similar breaches in Texas ($1.5 billion) and was only recently asked to pay $1.3 billion for violating E.U. Data Privacy Rules.”
The FCCPC further added, “Elsewhere in India, South Korea, France and Australia, Meta had faced varying penalties for similar breaches. But Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries. They obeyed.”
Emphasising its firm stance, the commission made it clear that any threats to exit Nigeria would not exempt Meta from being accountable for the outcome of the ongoing legal processes. It stated, “Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process.”
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding Nigerian consumers, the FCCPC concluded, “For the avoidance of doubt, the FCCPC remains committed to its pursuit of consumer protection and data privacy towards ensuring a fairer digital market in Nigeria.”
The commission also highlighted that the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upholding the FCCPC’s final order requires Meta to comply fully with Nigerian regulations. The tech giant is expected to stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, adjust its operations to align with local laws, and uphold consumer rights in line with global best practices, according to reports by The Cable.
