Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has warned it may suspend its services in Nigeria after facing more than $290 million in fines and increasingly strict regulatory demands from the Nigerian government.
The tech giant issued the warning after Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja upheld multiple penalties levied by three national agencies in 2023. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a $220 million fine, accusing Meta of anti-competitive practices. Additionally, the Advertising Regulatory Council fined the company $37.5 million over unauthorized advertising activities, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) issued a $32.8 million penalty for alleged violations of the country’s data privacy regulations.
Meta has strongly criticized the NDPC’s stipulations, particularly a rule requiring prior approval for transferring Nigerian user data abroad. The company called the mandate “unrealistic” and said it is based on a misinterpretation of international data privacy standards. Another concern includes the NDPC’s directive that Meta co-develop educational materials on data protection with government-approved partners.
With a court deadline looming, Meta has until the end of June to settle the fines or face possible enforcement measures—including the potential shutdown of Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria.