Meta has warned that it may shut down its Facebook and Instagram platforms in Nigeria after being hit with nearly $300 million in fines by various government agencies. The tech giant labeled the regulatory demands as “unrealistic.”
In July 2024, Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a $220 million fine on Meta, accusing the company of engaging in discriminatory and exploitative practices against Nigerian consumers. The FCCPC stated that Meta failed to appoint a Data Protection Compliance Organisation and neglected to submit Nigeria Data Protection Regulation audit reports for two consecutive years.
In addition, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) levied a $37.5 million fine against Meta for running unapproved advertisements, while the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) issued a $32.8 million penalty over an alleged data privacy violation.
Meta contested the fines in the Federal High Court in Abuja, but the court upheld the penalties in a ruling last week and instructed the company to settle the payments by the end of June. In response, Meta disclosed in court filings that it might be compelled to cease Facebook and Instagram operations in Nigeria to avoid possible enforcement actions.
The NDPC also accused Meta of processing user data in ways that could put Nigerians at risk of health and financial harm. However, Meta refuted the claim, arguing that the agency had misinterpreted the laws governing data privacy.