Meta Threatens to Shut Down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria Over Regulatory Fines and Data Laws

Meta threatens to shut down Facebook, Instagram in Nigeria

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced the possibility of halting operations of Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria, citing mounting regulatory fines and what it describes as "unrealistic" legal requirements concerning data protection and advertising compliance. The announcement follows the company's loss in a legal challenge at the High Court in Abuja, where it sought to overturn more than $290 million in fines imposed by Nigerian regulatory agencies.

In 2024, three Nigerian government bodies — the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) — imposed separate penalties on Meta for various legal violations.

The FCCPC issued the largest fine of $220 million, accusing Meta of anti-competitive behavior that allegedly distorted the digital market and undermined fair business practices within the country. The ARCON imposed a $37.5 million penalty on the company for airing advertisements that failed to meet Nigeria’s national advertising standards and lacked proper regulatory approval. Meanwhile, the NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million for multiple violations of the nation’s data protection laws, specifically the unauthorized transfer of Nigerian users’ personal data abroad.

“The investigations conducted from May 2021 to December 2023 uncovered invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria,” said Adamu Abdullahi, Chief Executive of the FCCPC. He emphasized that the findings stemmed from a joint investigation by the FCCPC and NDPC, with a shared commitment to consumer protection.

In its court defense, Meta contended that Nigeria’s data protection laws were being misinterpreted, particularly regarding cross-border data transfers and user consent. The company’s legal team argued that the NDPC’s requirement for prior approval before transferring personal data outside Nigeria was incompatible with global data flow practices.

In addition to financial penalties, the NDPC directed Meta to collaborate with government-approved institutions to create educational content informing Nigerian users about the risks of data misuse. This content is expected to address the impact of "manipulative and unfair data processing" on individuals' mental health and financial wellbeing.

Meta labeled these demands excessive and inconsistent with the treatment of other global tech firms operating in the country. The company criticized the NDPC’s approach as impractical and discriminatory, warning that ongoing compliance with such regulations could render its operations unsustainable in Nigeria.

Despite the legal setback, Meta's public statement did not mention WhatsApp, leaving its future status in Nigeria unclear. Facebook, however, remains Nigeria’s most widely used social media platform, supporting tens of millions of users and serving as a vital tool for communication, content distribution, and small business marketing.