By Grace Chigbu
Lagos, Nigeria | May 3, 2025
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has warned it may be forced to shut down its services in Nigeria. This comes after Nigerian authorities imposed fines totaling more than \$290 million for alleged breaches of competition, advertising, and data protection laws.
In a legal filing seen by BBC News, Meta said it faces “unrealistic” demands, especially from the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and warned that ongoing enforcement could leave no option but to suspend operations of Facebook and Instagram in the country.
Last year, three federal agencies levied the penalties:
$220 million by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged anti-competitive practices.
$37.5 million by the advertising regulator for running ads without proper approval.
$32.8 million by the NDPC for violating Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
The NDPC’s demands include requiring Meta to seek prior approval before transferring user data out of Nigeria and to create educational videos—alongside government-approved groups—on data risks. Meta has called these requests “unfeasible” and said the commission has misinterpreted existing laws.
The Federal High Court in Abuja rejected Meta’s legal challenge and has ordered the company to pay the fines by the end of June.
If Meta follows through on its threat, it would affect millions of Nigerian users who rely on Facebook and Instagram for communication, news, and business. Small online businesses in particular could face severe disruption.
Meta has not mentioned whether WhatsApp, its other major platform, would be affected.
As of now, Meta has not publicly confirmed its next steps.
