Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned that it may restrict access to the two platforms in Nigeria following a series of hefty fines from the country’s regulatory authorities, totaling over $290 million.
The company’s attempt to challenge the penalties in an Abuja High Court was unsuccessful, with the court ordering Meta to settle the fines by the end of June.
Last year, three regulatory bodies, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) accused Meta of breaching various laws. The FCCPC fined the tech giant $220 million for alleged anti-competitive practices, ARCON issued a $37.5 million penalty for unauthorized advertising, and the NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million over violations of data privacy laws.
The FCCPC’s CEO, Adamu Abdullahi, stated that joint investigations conducted with the NDPC from May 2021 to December 2023 revealed invasive practices affecting Nigerian consumers, though he did not specify the nature of the violations.
In its court filings, Meta pushed back against the NDPC’s interpretation of data regulations, calling some of the requirements—such as obtaining prior consent before transferring data abroad “unrealistic.” The company also criticized a directive to develop educational content on data privacy in collaboration with government-endorsed institutions and NGOs.
While Meta owns WhatsApp, the messaging platform was notably excluded from the proposed shutdown.
Facebook remains Nigeria’s most-used social media platform, playing a vital role in daily communication, news sharing, and business activities especially for small online enterprises and content creators. A potential shutdown could significantly disrupt digital livelihoods across the country.
Meta’s standoff with Nigerian authorities continues to raise concerns over digital access, data sovereignty, and the balance between corporate operations and national regulation.