ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a stern warning to Meta Platforms Inc., stating that the company’s threat to exit the Nigerian market does not nullify its legal liabilities arising from data privacy violations.
In a statement on Saturday, May 3, 2025, by Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, the commission described Meta’s recent warning to suspend Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria as “a calculated move” designed to trigger public backlash and pressure regulatory authorities into backing down.
“No company operating within Nigeria is above the law,” the FCCPC declared.
“Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process.”
The dispute stems from a joint investigation conducted between May 2021 and December 2023 by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into Meta’s handling of user data.
In July 2024, the FCCPC imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for “multiple data privacy violations,” including unauthorised data sharing, discriminatory treatment of Nigerian users, and exploitative privacy policies.
Meta has since appealed the fine, but Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the penalty on April 25, 2025.
The FCCPC noted that Meta has complied with similar regulatory actions in other jurisdictions without threatening to exit.
The commission cited enforcement actions in Texas ($1.5 billion), the European Union ($1.3 billion), as well as penalties in India, South Korea, France, and Australia.
“But Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries. They obeyed,” the statement read.
In Nigeria, however, the tech company has responded by warning it may be forced to shut down Facebook and Instagram services, citing what it calls “unrealistic” regulatory demands.
The FCCPC dismissed the claim, reiterating that the affirmed tribunal order simply requires Meta to “take steps to comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards, and respect consumer rights, consistent with international best practices.”
The Commission said it remains committed to enforcing consumer rights and data privacy laws to ensure fair digital market conditions in Nigeria.
Meta has not issued any public statement regarding the FCCPC’s latest remarks.
