In a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC dismissed Meta’s exit threat as a strategic attempt to manipulate public sentiment and pressure the agency into reversing its regulatory stance. “This is a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision,” the statement read.
Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (collectively referred to as “Meta Parties”) were found to have violated provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). The Commission’s investigation uncovered multiple and recurring infractions, including the unauthorized transfer and sharing of Nigerian users’ data, denial of users' rights to control their personal information, and discriminatory treatment of Nigerian users relative to those in other countries.
Perhaps most notably, the Commission accused Meta of abusing its dominant market position by imposing unfair privacy policies that consumers had little choice but to accept. This, according to the FCCPC, constitutes a direct affront to Nigeria’s commitment to a fair and competitive digital marketplace.
The Commission further highlighted that Nigeria is not alone in penalizing Meta for privacy violations. The company has faced significant fines globally, including $1.5 billion in Texas and $1.3 billion for breaching EU data privacy regulations. Additional penalties have been imposed by regulators in India, South Korea, France, and Australia. “In all those countries, Meta complied. It did not threaten to exit. It obeyed,” the FCCPC stated pointedly.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has claimed that Nigeria’s regulatory expectations are “unrealistic” and has threatened to suspend operations of its platforms in the country. The company is reportedly contesting nearly $290 million in cumulative fines from three Nigerian government agencies. However, a legal challenge by Meta to contest the fines was dismissed, and Nigerian authorities expect compliance before the end of June 2025.
In its response, the FCCPC reiterated that the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal requires Meta to align its operations with Nigerian law. This includes ceasing exploitative practices, reforming its data-handling policies, and upholding consumer rights consistent with international best practices.
“The FCCPC remains steadfast in its mission to protect Nigerian consumers and uphold the integrity of the digital marketplace,” the statement concluded.
As tensions escalate between the regulator and the tech giant, Nigeria’s stance signals a broader push by developing economies to assert their digital sovereignty and demand accountability from global technology companies.