Millions of Nigerians could soon lose access to Facebook and Instagram as Meta, the parent company of both platforms, has threatened to suspend its services in the country following a series of hefty fines and what it calls “unrealistic” regulatory demands from Nigerian authorities.
Last year, three Nigerian regulatory agencies-the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC)-slapped Meta with fines totaling more than $290 million. The penalties stem from alleged violations of competition, advertising, and data protection laws, including claims of anti-competitive practices, unauthorized advertising, and breaches of user privacy through the transfer of data abroad without proper consent.
Meta challenged the fines in Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja but lost. The court has now ordered the tech giant to pay the full amount by the end of June 2025. In court documents, Meta warned that it may be forced to “effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures” if the situation is not resolved.
While Meta also owns WhatsApp, the company did not mention the messaging app in its shutdown threat, suggesting that WhatsApp may remain available in Nigeria for now.
Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform in Nigeria, serving tens of millions of users daily for communication, news, and business. The platform is especially vital for small online entrepreneurs and content creators who rely on it for their livelihoods.
If Meta follows through with its threat, the shutdown could disrupt communication, online business, and access to information for millions across the country.
At the heart of the dispute are Nigeria’s strict data protection requirements. Authorities have demanded that Meta obtain explicit approval before transferring any user data out of the country and add visible links on its platforms leading to educational content about the risks of manipulative and unfair data practices. Meta has described these demands as excessive and impractical, arguing that they place an unreasonable burden on its operations in Nigeria.
The FCCPC’s chief executive, Adamu Abdullahi, said investigations conducted with the NDPC uncovered “invasive practices against data subjects/consumers in Nigeria,” though specific details were not disclosed.
Meta has until the end of June to comply with the court’s order and pay the fines. The company has not yet announced its final decision, but the possibility of losing access to Facebook and Instagram has sparked concern among Nigerian users and businesses who depend on these platforms for daily activities.
The BBC and other outlets have reached out to Meta for further comment, but the company has not responded as of press time.
