Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection watchdog has pushed back strongly against Meta’s threat to withdraw its services from the country following a $220 million fine. In a detailed public statement, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) described Meta’s posture as “a calculated move aimed at inducing public sympathy and pressuring the Commission to reverse a lawful regulatory decision.”
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, had reportedly warned it might suspend some of its platforms in Nigeria, citing what it called “unrealistic regulatory demands” and nearly $290 million in penalties from Nigerian authorities. The statement came after the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the FCCPC’s findings that Meta and WhatsApp (collectively referred to as “Meta Parties”) violated Nigeria’s consumer protection and data privacy laws.
FCCPC: Threat Does Not Nullify Liability
Responding to Meta’s remarks, FCCPC Director of Public Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, made it clear that no amount of pressure or exit threats would cause the Commission to waiver on its mandate.
“Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process,” the FCCPC noted.
The Commission emphasized that Meta’s conduct breached key provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). These breaches include:
- Unauthorized data sharing and transfers.
- Discriminatory treatment of Nigerian users.
- Abusing its dominant market position.
- Enforcing unfair privacy policies.
According to the FCCPC, the investigation—conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)—spanned 38 months and revealed consistent violations that placed Nigerian consumers at a disadvantage compared to users in other jurisdictions.
No Exit Threats Elsewhere
The FCCPC also questioned why Meta has never made similar exit threats in other countries where it faced larger penalties.
“In Texas, Meta paid $1.5 billion. In the European Union, it was fined $1.3 billion. Yet, in neither case did the company threaten to leave,” the statement read.
The Commission sees Meta’s Nigerian exit threat as an anomaly meant to intimidate regulators and sidestep accountability in a market where legal enforcement is strengthening.
Tribunal Ruling and Compliance Timeline
The Tribunal ruling mandates Meta to:
- Pay the $220 million fine and an additional ₦35,000 in investigative costs within 60 days from April 30, 2025.
- Reinstate Nigerian users’ control over personal data.
- Cease all unauthorized data sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook.
- Submit a compliance letter and new data policy to the FCCPC and NDPC by July 1, 2025.
Failure to comply could trigger additional sanctions.
A New Era of Digital Accountability
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to fair digital markets, warning that regulatory frameworks must be respected by all companies, including global tech giants.
“This is not about stifling innovation. It’s about ensuring that Nigerian consumers are not exploited and that their data is handled with the same standards respected in other parts of the world,” the Commission said.
With this bold stance, the FCCPC signals that Nigeria is ready to hold big tech accountable—regardless of size or origin.
