On Saturday, May 3, 2025, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced its intention to fight hefty fines imposed by Nigerian authorities for alleged consumer data violations. The U.S. tech giant faces a total of $290 million in penalties from three Nigerian regulatory bodies, prompting a threat to potentially suspend its services in Africa’s most populous nation.
Regulatory Clash: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) fined Meta $220 million for anti-competitive practices, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) imposed a $32.8 million penalty for data privacy breaches. An additional $37.5 million fine came from the advertising regulator for unapproved advertising.
Rejecting Meta’s Appeal
The fines stem from a series of investigations, including a probe by the FCCPC and NDPC from May 2021 to December 2023, which uncovered what authorities described as “invasive practices” against Nigerian consumers. A Nigerian tribunal recently upheld the $220 million fine, rejecting Meta’s appeal and giving the company until the end of June to comply. Meta has called the regulatory demands “unrealistic,” particularly a requirement to seek prior approval before transferring personal data out of Nigeria, arguing it misinterprets data privacy laws.
With over 164 million internet users in Nigeria as of March 2025, the country is a key market for Meta, where platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp are vital for communication and small businesses. The potential exit of these services could have significant economic and social impacts, raising questions about the balance between regulatory enforcement and the operational realities of global tech companies.
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