By Mar Ogagan
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has issued a stark warning that it may be forced to shut down both platforms in Nigeria due to the hefty $290 million regulatory fines imposed on it by the Nigerian government, and what it deems “unrealistic” demands from Nigerian authorities.
In a court filing, Meta expressed concern over the mounting regulatory pressures, particularly following the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)’s imposition of a $220 million fine for multiple data privacy violations.
The case stems from a 38-month joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into Meta’s privacy practices and consumer data policies.
On July 19, 2024, the FCCPC fined Meta $220 million, a decision that Meta has vowed to appeal. The fine relates to the alleged violations committed by WhatsApp and other Meta-owned platforms.
The competition and consumer protection tribunal upheld the fine on April 25, 2025, giving Meta until the end of June to comply with the ruling.
In response, Meta warned that it may be forced to “effectively shut down” Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria to mitigate the risk of further enforcement actions. T
his warning comes amidst an escalating dispute between Meta and the regulatory bodies. Although WhatsApp is also owned by Meta, the company did not include the messaging platform in its court filing.
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