Tech giant Meta has warned it may shut down Facebook and Instagram operations in Nigeria following a series of regulatory fines and demands by government agencies.
In court filings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Meta said it is considering pulling out of the Nigerian market to avoid enforcement actions after failing to overturn sanctions totaling over $290 million.
The breakdown of penalties includes:
- $220 million from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged anti-competitive practices
- $37.5 million from the national advertising regulator over unapproved content
- $32.8 million from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) for privacy violations
Meta expressed particular concern over the NDPC’s demand to seek government approval before transferring user data out of Nigeria, describing the requirement as “unworkable.” The company also objected to a rule requiring it to publish government-approved educational content on data privacy, calling it “impractical.”
With a court-imposed deadline looming at the end of June, the future of Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria remains uncertain. Notably, WhatsApp was not mentioned in the legal filings.
A potential shutdown could significantly disrupt the digital ecosystem, affecting millions of Nigerian users and countless small businesses that rely on the platforms for visibility, customer engagement, and sales.
