Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has indicated that it may cease operations of the two platforms in Nigeria, citing mounting financial penalties and regulatory obligations that it deems untenable. The social media conglomerate disclosed in recent legal filings that the pressures exerted by three Nigerian regulatory agencies — culminating in fines exceeding $290 million — could compel it to withdraw its services from the country.
The dispute intensified following a decision by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which rejected Meta’s bid to overturn the regulatory actions. The court has stipulated that the company must comply with the penalty demands by the end of June 2025.
According to court documents, Meta expressed concern that continued operation under current conditions would pose an unsustainable legal and financial risk. It stated that unless enforcement expectations were re-evaluated, the company could be “forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria.” Notably, the company did not reference WhatsApp, which it also owns, suggesting that the messaging service may not be immediately affected.
The fines imposed on Meta stem from actions taken in July 2024 by three national oversight bodies. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) levied a $220 million penalty, citing anti-competitive conduct. The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) fined Meta $37.5 million for alleged violations involving unapproved advertising practices. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) imposed a $32.8 million fine for purported breaches of national data protection legislation.
In statements made by Adamu Abdullahi, Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, the investigations—conducted in partnership with the NDPC between May 2021 and December 2023—uncovered “invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria.” However, specific details regarding the nature of these violations have not been publicly disclosed.
Meta, in its court filings, focused its objections primarily on the NDPC’s interpretations of data transfer and consent regulations. The NDPC has insisted that the company must obtain prior approval before transmitting any Nigerian user data outside the country—a stipulation Meta considers incompatible with global data handling protocols.
Further, the NDPC mandated that Meta develop and display an icon on its platforms linking to educational videos that address data privacy risks. These materials are to be created in collaboration with government-endorsed institutions and non-profit entities. The videos must outline the potential harms associated with “manipulative and unfair data processing,” particularly as they pertain to user vulnerability in areas of health and financial decision-making.
Meta has characterised these demands as overly burdensome and argued that they reflect a fundamental misreading of existing data protection laws. According to the company, compliance with such requirements would necessitate significant operational overhauls and contravene international best practices.
Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform in Nigeria, serving tens of millions of users. For many citizens, especially small-scale entrepreneurs, it is an indispensable communication and commercial tool. Any disruption to its availability could have considerable ramifications across social, economic, and informational domains.
Despite repeated requests from the BBC, Meta has not issued a formal statement regarding its next course of action. The developments form part of a broader global dialogue over the jurisdictional reach of national data privacy frameworks, especially in emerging digital markets.
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, the outcome of this dispute may set a significant precedent for the governance of transnational digital services in African jurisdictions. The unfolding case will be closely watched by other international tech corporations operating within the continent.
