Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned it may suspend both platforms in Nigeria due to what it describes as “unrealistic” regulatory demands and nearly $290 million in fines imposed by three government agencies.
According to court filings reviewed by the BBC on Friday, the warning comes after Meta’s unsuccessful legal challenge against the penalties, which Nigerian authorities insist must be paid by the end of June 2025.
In a July 2024 statement obtained by PUNCH Online, Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused Meta of violating local consumer and data protection laws through its data-sharing practices on Facebook and WhatsApp.
The FCCPC’s acting Executive Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, claimed that Meta denied Nigerian users control over their personal data, shared that data without consent, and abused its dominant market position.
In April 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed Meta’s appeal, upholding both the fines and the June 2025 payment deadline.
“If compliance proves impossible, the applicant may be forced to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to avoid enforcement actions,” Meta stated in its court filings.
The company also challenged specific conditions set by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), particularly a rule requiring prior approval for all cross-border personal data transfers. Meta argued this condition is impractical and inconsistent with Nigeria’s data protection laws.
Another NDPC requirement—that Meta add an icon on its platforms linking to government-approved educational videos about manipulative data practices—was also deemed unfeasible by the company.
While FCCPC Chief Adamu Abdullahi described Meta’s practices as “invasive,” he did not provide detailed examples. The NDPC said its video initiative is designed to educate the public on potential health and financial risks tied to data misuse.
Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform in Nigeria, with millions relying on it for communication, news, and business. Small businesses especially depend on it for marketing and customer engagement—making any potential suspension a major threat to Nigeria’s digital economy.