Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company behind Facebook and Instagram, has raised alarms over the future of its operations in Nigeria, warning it might be forced to shut down both platforms in the country. The tech giant cites mounting regulatory fines and what it describes as “unrealistic” demands from Nigerian authorities as reasons for the possible withdrawal.
In documents filed in court and obtained by the BBC, Meta voiced its concerns about escalating regulatory pressure, particularly after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) hit the company with a $220 million fine for several data privacy breaches.
The issue originated from a joint 38-month investigation carried out by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), focusing on Meta’s data handling practices and consumer privacy policies.
On July 19, 2024, the FCCPC imposed the $220 million penalty, which Meta has since vowed to challenge. The sanction was linked to data privacy violations allegedly committed through WhatsApp and other services owned by Meta.
Further tightening the regulatory noose, the competition and consumer protection tribunal upheld the fine on April 25, 2025, ordering Meta to comply by the end of June.
Reacting to the tribunal’s decision, Meta warned that it may be compelled to “effectively shut down” Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria to avoid further penalties. However, despite WhatsApp also falling under the Meta umbrella, the messaging service was notably excluded from the company’s legal filing.
According to Naturenex, Meta’s primary concern is centered around the NDPC’s stance on Nigeria’s data protection laws. While the NDPC accused the tech company of breaching these regulations and imposed a separate $32.8 million fine, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) also fined Meta $37.5 million for allegedly running unauthorized adverts.
As reported by the BBC, one of the biggest sticking points for Meta is the NDPC’s insistence that the company seek prior approval before transferring Nigerian users’ data abroad—a requirement the firm slammed as “unrealistic.”
In addition, the NDPC ordered Meta to develop and circulate educational content about data privacy risks, to be created in collaboration with government-approved organizations and non-profits.
Meta, however, has pushed back forcefully against these directives, calling the conditions “unworkable” and arguing that the NDPC has misinterpreted Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
The company maintains that enforcing such measures could negatively affect its capacity to provide services and sustain operations within Nigeria.
This regulatory standoff stems from investigations that ran from May 2021 through December 2023, ultimately culminating in the heavy fines now being contested.
