Meta Platforms Inc. has warned it may shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria following a $220 million fine imposed by the country’s consumer watchdog for alleged data privacy violations.
The warning comes after a Nigerian tribunal upheld the fine, rejecting Meta’s appeal and siding with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which accused the tech giant of breaching the nation’s data protection and consumer rights laws on Facebook and WhatsApp.
In court documents cited by the BBC and The Africa Report, Meta said it “may be forced to effectively shut down Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” if the order is enforced.
Meta has until the end of June to comply and pay the fine, according to Nigerian media reports.
Despite the setback, a Meta spokesperson reiterated the company’s stance, telling AFP:
“We disagree with the NDPC’s decision, which fails to take into account the wide range of settings and tools that allow everyone using Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to control how their information is used. We’re committed to protecting user privacy and have appealed the decision.”
The case stems from a joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which examined Meta’s practices from May 2021 to December 2023. The agencies allege that Meta engaged in “invasive practices” that violated the rights of Nigerian consumers.
WhatsApp also came under scrutiny, with a spokesperson telling AFP:
“The FCCPC order contains multiple inaccuracies and misrepresents how WhatsApp works. We are urgently applying to stay the order and appeal the Tribunal’s decision to avoid any impact to users.”
With over 164 million internet subscriptions in Nigeria as of March 2025, Meta’s platforms — Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — are widely used across the country. A potential shutdown would significantly disrupt digital communications and social media engagement in Africa’s most populous nation.
