Nigerians may soon lose access to Facebook and Instagram, as Meta—the parent company of both platforms—has warned it may shut down services in Nigeria due to mounting regulatory pressure and hefty fines imposed by local authorities.
In court documents submitted to the Federal High Court in Abuja, Meta stated that it could be “forced to effectively shut down” Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria to avoid the risk of enforcement actions tied to fines exceeding $290 million. The warning follows the company’s failed legal bid to overturn the sanctions.
Breakdown of Fines Against Meta:
- $220 million by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged anti-competitive practices
- $37.5 million by Nigeria’s advertising regulator for unapproved advertising
- $32.8 million by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) for violating data privacy laws
Meta has until end of June 2025 to pay the fines.
Core Dispute: Data Privacy Enforcement
Meta said its biggest concern lies with the NDPC, which allegedly misinterpreted Nigeria’s data privacy laws. Key demands from the commission include:
- Prior approval before transferring any Nigerian user data abroad
- Creation of educational videos on data risks, produced with government-approved institutions
- Prominent display of an icon linking to these videos on Meta platforms in Nigeria
Meta called these requirements “unrealistic” and “unfeasible”, arguing that they go far beyond international norms and would severely impair the company’s operations.
Implications for Nigerians
The potential ban would affect tens of millions of users, especially small businesses that rely on Facebook and Instagram for marketing, communication, and sales. WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, was notably not mentioned in the shutdown threat.
Government Position
While the FCCPC and NDPC claim their actions are based on protecting consumers and data subjects, they have yet to clarify specific violations. The NDPC insists that Meta must protect Nigerians from “manipulative and unfair data processing” that could lead to health and financial risks.
This standoff underscores growing tensions between global tech giants and African regulators, particularly around data sovereignty, content control, and market dominance.
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