Millions of Nigerians could soon lose access to Facebook and Instagram as tech giant Meta faces mounting pressure from regulatory authorities and a looming deadline to pay over $290 million in fines.
Meta, which owns the two platforms along with WhatsApp, warned in court documents that it may be forced to shut down Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria due to what it called “unrealistic” regulatory demands and the threat of enforcement measures. WhatsApp was not mentioned in the court filing.
The warning follows a decision by Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja, which rejected Meta’s legal challenge against fines imposed by three oversight agencies last year. The court has given the company until the end of June to pay the penalties in full.
The fines stem from allegations of anti-competitive behavior, unapproved advertising, and violations of data protection laws. Specifically:
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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) fined Meta $220 million for anti-competitive practices.
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The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria imposed a $37.5 million fine for publishing advertisements without prior approval.
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The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) levied a $32.8 million fine, accusing Meta of breaching data privacy regulations.
The NDPC, which appears to be the main focus of Meta’s concern, demanded that the company seek prior approval before transferring personal data out of Nigeria—an obligation Meta described as “unrealistic.” The commission also required Meta to publish educational videos warning users about data privacy risks. These videos would need to be co-produced with government-approved institutions and highlight the dangers of “manipulative and unfair data processing.”
Meta contends that these demands are unfeasible and that the NDPC has misinterpreted Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
In response, FCCPC CEO Adamu Abdullahi said investigations conducted from May 2021 to December 2023 revealed “invasive practices” against Nigerian users, though he did not elaborate on the specific violations.
Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform in Nigeria, serving tens of millions of users and playing a crucial role in everyday communication and online commerce. A potential shutdown would have wide-reaching implications, particularly for small businesses that rely on the platform for customer engagement and sales.
Meta has not yet disclosed its next steps. The BBC has reached out to the company for comment but received no response at the time of publication.
