Meta Threatens To Suspend Facebook And Instagram In Nigeria Over £220m Fines.
In a dramatic escalation of tensions with Nigerian authorities, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has warned it may suspend its social media platforms in Nigeria following fines totalling over £220 million and what it describes as “unrealistic” regulatory demands.
The threat comes after a federal high court in Abuja upheld penalties imposed by three Nigerian agencies in 2023. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) slapped Meta with a £165 million fine for alleged anti-competitive practices. The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria added a £28 million penalty for unauthorised advertisements, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) imposed a £24.6 million fine for violations of data privacy laws.
Meta has voiced strong objections to the NDPC’s demands, particularly a requirement to seek prior approval before transferring personal data outside Nigeria, which the company labelled “unrealistic.” The NDPC also ordered Meta to produce educational content on data privacy risks in partnership with government-approved organisations, a mandate Meta argues is impractical and based on a misinterpretation of privacy regulations.
The Abuja court has set a deadline of late June for Meta to settle the fines. In a statement, the tech giant indicated it might withdraw its services in Nigeria to avoid further enforcement actions, a move that could disrupt access to platforms used by millions of Nigerians daily.
The standoff has raised concerns about the balance between regulatory oversight and the operational realities of global tech firms in Nigeria, with Meta urging a resolution that avoids penalising its users. As the deadline looms, all eyes will be on whether negotiations can prevent a social media blackout in Africa’s most populous nation.
