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| Smartphone screen showing Meta logo with Facebook and Instagram icons |
Nigeria’s government fined Meta $220 million for data and consumer rights breaches. Regulators said Meta took Nigerian users’ data without clear consent, forced unfair privacy rules on them, and treated Nigerians worse than people in other countries. An investigation by Nigeria’s competition and data-protection agencies found “abusive and invasive practices” towards Nigerian users. In 2024, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Data Protection Commission (NDPC) jointly probed Meta’s policies from 2021 to 2023. They said Meta denied Nigerians the right to control their personal data and shared data without permission. The fines also penalized unapproved advertising content through Instagram, via a separate $37.5 million penalty by the advertising regulator. In all, three regulators issued about $290 million in fines to Meta: $220 million (FCCPC), $37.5 million (ARCON), and $32.8 million (NDPC).
Meta is fighting the fines. The company has appealed and warned it may pull Facebook and Instagram from Nigeria. In court filings cited by news media, Meta said it “may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria” to avoid enforcement actions. The company argues that Nigerian demands are “unrealistic.” For example, Nigeria’s data protection agency wants Meta to get prior government approval before moving any Nigerian user data abroad, and even to add educational videos about data privacy on its apps. Meta called these rules vague and impractical, saying its own platforms have many settings to protect user privacy already. A Meta spokesperson told AFP that they “disagree with the NDPC’s decision,” claiming users can control how their info is used through app settings. Meta says it has appealed the tribunal’s ruling and remains “committed to protecting user privacy”.
Meta’s threat to leave Nigeria comes as Facebook and Instagram are hugely popular there. Facebook alone has over 35 million users in Nigeria, Instagram about 12 million, and WhatsApp about 90 million. These platforms are widely used for news, family chats, and especially for small businesses to sell products. Shutting them down would disrupt the daily lives of millions of Nigerians.
Nigerian officials have pushed back. The FCCPC said Meta’s move is a public relations tactic. In a statement, FCCPC spokesman Ondaje Ijagwu called Meta’s threat a “calculated move” aimed at pressuring regulators. He noted that similar fines in India, South Korea, France and Australia were paid without threats. “Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries,” the FCCPC said, adding that threats won’t erase Meta’s legal liabilities. The commission stressed that the fines followed a thorough 38-month investigation and that Meta had many chances to explain its side.
FCCPC boss Adamu Abdullahi and others said the probe showed Meta denied Nigerians control over their data and abused its dominance. The NDPC also fined Meta $32.8 million, accusing it of data privacy breaches. These officials say Meta’s practices violated Nigeria’s 2023 Data Protection Act and competition laws. In response to Meta’s threats, they have largely stood firm. The FCCPC warned that Meta must comply with the law and cannot intimidate Nigeria into changing the rules. The regulator also reminded the public that Nigeria has a right to enforce its laws, even on foreign companies, to protect its citizens.
Law experts say the case raises novel issues. Nigeria’s fines target not just data privacy, but also competition practices. Meta is being judged on whether it offered Nigerian users the same terms as elsewhere. This is similar to cases around the world. For example, U.S. and EU regulators have fined Meta for data and competition issues: the U.S. Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook (Meta) $5 billion in 2019 for privacy violations, and the EU recently fined Meta a record $1.3 billion for illegal data transfers. In India and South Korea, regulators have also investigated or fined Meta for privacy and competition concerns.
The Nigerian tribunal’s April 2025 ruling upholding the $220 million fine means Meta must pay unless it wins further appeals. Experts note that Meta has until the end of June to pay or appeal again. WhatsApp is also appealing to avoid the fine. One legal analyst points out that if Meta truly intends to leave, it cannot simply stop its fines—Nigeria has said exit would not erase past liabilities. Financially, a $220 million hit is small for Meta globally (its quarterly revenue is over $30 billion), but it is a large penalty by Nigerian standards.
Meta’s Global Fine Record
Nigeria’s $220M fine is one of several big penalties Meta has faced. For perspective, regulators worldwide have fined Meta in recent years. In the U.S., the 2019 settlement with the FTC was $5 billion for Cambridge Analytica privacy breaches (the largest privacy fine ever). In the EU, Ireland’s data watchdog hit Meta with a $1.3 billion fine in 2024 for illegal transfers of EU data to the U.S.. European competition and privacy authorities have imposed hundreds of millions in other fines on Meta for antitrust and content issues. Meta has also been fined in Australia, India, South Korea, and elsewhere for data and content violations, usually on the order of tens of millions, not hundreds. The Nigerian fine is thus unusually large for data/privacy issues (though still smaller than some U.S. and EU penalties).
Meta has mostly paid or appealed these fines. In Nigeria, it has appealed but also warned of service cuts. The contrast drawn by Nigeria’s FCCPC is that Meta obeyed without threat in places like India and France. The outcome here may signal how tough Nigeria will be enforcing its laws.
Impact on Nigeria’s Economy and Society
Experts warn that blocking Facebook and Instagram could hurt Nigeria badly. One commentator notes that shutting these platforms “would be a self-inflicted wound on Nigeria’s digital economy”. The platforms are key for small businesses and freelancers who use social media to reach customers. As Jeff Okoroafor, a business analyst, writes:
Economic disruption: Millions of Nigerian businesses rely on Facebook and Instagram for marketing and sales. A shutdown could wipe out billions in online revenue overnight.
Communication breakdown: WhatsApp (still live) and Facebook Messenger are widely used to chat with family and for work. Losing Facebook and Instagram would leave a gap in social networking and news sharing.
Social impact: Facebook is a top source of news for many Nigerians. Without it, people might turn to less reliable news sources. Some fear losing a space for free speech and organization.
Investor confidence: Arbitrary bans on tech platforms could scare off foreign investors and tech startups from Nigeria.
Linda Ikeji’s news site also noted that Facebook “serves tens of millions of users for daily communication, news sharing, and as a key tool for small businesses” in Nigeria. Losing it could have “significant social and economic repercussions.”
Nigeria’s large internet population (around 164 million connections) means many people use Meta’s apps daily. If Facebook and Instagram shut down, those users would either switch to other social networks or go offline. Alternatives like Twitter (X) or local apps might not fill the gap quickly.
On social media, many Nigerians are anxious or upset about the standoff. Some small-business owners and influencers voiced concern that losing Facebook and Instagram would hurt their income. Others fear losing contact with family abroad. A few citizens joked that a Facebook shutdown would be “the end of naija gossip”, while critics of the government see it as a test of internet freedom.
Public opinion is mixed: some support the government’s stand on data privacy and see Meta’s threats as bullying, while others worry about a future with no Facebook or Instagram. Major Nigerian media outlets have run reader comments both supporting the fines (saying foreign tech should follow local rules) and criticizing them (saying it could isolate Nigeria digitally).
So far, no official action has cut off Meta’s platforms. But Nigerians say they are watching closely. If Meta shuts down services, people would likely turn to other platforms (like TikTok, Twitter, or new apps) to stay connected. Businesses would need to find new ways to reach customers.
Meta’s next step is to appeal the decision through Nigeria’s legal system. The company has until the end of June 2025 to comply or push the case further. If the appeals court or higher courts uphold the fine again, Meta will have to decide whether to pay or withdraw services.
The Nigerian government and regulators say they will enforce their laws. The FCCPC has indicated it wants Meta to change its practices and stop exploiting Nigerian consumers. Officials say they prefer dialogue and compliance rather than a shutdown. For example, the FCCPC has called for “transparent investigations” and for Meta to bring its policies in line with Nigerian standards.
Meta has said it is willing to negotiate over practical solutions, but it draws a line at some demands it calls unworkable. Both sides may keep talking. In the meantime, regulators have given Meta deadlines to respond. If Meta does not pay or comply, Nigeria could seek to block its platforms by technical means or by passing stronger laws. Some experts suggest setting up local data centers or shared standards to avoid shutdowns.
For now, Nigerians are bracing for any outcome. Businesses are looking at backup plans, while regulators are emphasizing that Nigeria’s laws will be upheld. The outcome will not only affect Facebook and Instagram, but may influence how tech companies operate in Nigeria’s growing digital market.