Meta has threatened to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria after being slammed with nearly $300 million in fines by three government agencies and what it describes as excessive, unworkable data regulation demands.
Nigeria is asking Meta to comply with requirements the company claims are unrealistic and technically impossible. The company has been fined by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). The total? Over $290 million, plus a growing pile of legal issues.
At the heart of the case is a regulation that bars Meta from transferring Nigerian user data abroad without prior approval from the NDPC.
In simple terms, Meta must ask for permission each time it wants to move data out of the country. The company says that’s not how modern systems work, and trying to meet such a demand could incapacitate its ability to operate.
In legal filings, Meta makes its position clear: “The applicant (Meta) may be forced to effectively shut down Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria.”
The company has already seen one major arm—WhatsApp—tussle with Nigerian authorities in a separate but related matter. That ended in a $220 million fine, which the Competition Tribunal upheld, adding an extra $35,000 for investigative costs. Meta appealed, but the legal losses are piling up.
The NDPC hasn’t just stopped at data movement restrictions. The commission also wants Meta to add a visible link on both Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria.
That link must point users to educational content explaining how digital platforms might exploit their data. And that content must be produced with pre-approved NGOs and academic partners.
The government argues that Nigerian users are being treated unfairly compared to those in other countries. Following a 38-month investigation, regulators allege that Meta’s policies have enabled unauthorised transfers of personal data and that the company applies a different set of standards for Nigerian users.
To many Nigerians, these platforms are tools for work, community, and business. If Meta pulls out, thousands of digital marketers, content creators, and small business owners could be left scrambling. It may also nudge users toward other platforms like TikTok, Telegram, or even Google Meet for social connection and commerce.
Just recently, the European Union fined both Meta and Apple under the new Digital Markets Act. Nigeria is trying to assert itself as a regulator with teeth, but the stakes are high. If Meta walks, it will trigger economic and social ripples far beyond the courtroom.
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