Meta Threatens to Shut Down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria After Court Defeat
Access to Facebook and Instagram may soon be cut off in Nigeria, as Meta has warned it could shut down both platforms following a legal defeat and mounting regulatory pressure. In a statement submitted to the federal high court in Abuja, Meta said it is being pushed toward a possible exit from the Nigerian market to avoid “unrealistic” compliance obligations and severe financial penalties. The tech giant, which also owns WhatsApp, has not mentioned plans to remove the messaging platform for now.
This comes after BBC reports indicated Meta lost a court case regarding fines from multiple regulators in Nigeria the Nigerian court gave Meta until June 2025 to pay the fines which totaled over $290 million.
Legal Case and Fines Explained:
In early 2024, three Nigerian agencies all imposed hefty penalties on Meta for violations. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a fine of $220 million USD for engaging in anti-competitive conduct. The National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) fined Meta $32.8 million for violating data privacy laws. The advertising regulator in Nigeria also imposed a penalty of $37.5 million USD for unauthorized advertising.
Meta’s challenge to these fines was dismissed by the court, leaving the company facing what it calls “disproportionate and misinformed” enforcement.
Why Meta May Exit Nigeria?
Meta claims that the regulatory requirements – specifically those from the NDPC were not only excessive, but inconsistent with international data practice standards. Among the requirements were for Meta, the company, to seek prior approval to transfer user data outside Nigeria, and to create state-approved education content which warned users about privacy risks.
Referring to these expectations as “unfeasible”, Meta argues that the NDPC misinterpreted Nigeria’s privacy laws. The organization believes its primary concern is the longer term implication and any of these rules could have on it retaining its ability to operate effectively in the territory.
