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Regulatory Fines: Meta Threatens To Shut Down Facebook, Instagram In Nigeria

Published

5 months ago

May 3, 2025

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Meta Platforms Inc. has warned it may cease operations of Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria, citing increasing regulatory fines and what it calls “unrealistic” data and advertising laws.

The tech giant, which also owns WhatsApp, issued the threat on Thursday after losing a legal challenge at the Abuja High Court.

The case sought to overturn more than $290 million in fines levied by Nigerian regulatory agencies.

In 2024, three government bodies — the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) — imposed separate penalties on Meta for violations of national laws.

The FCCPC imposed the largest fine of $220 million, accusing the company of anti-competitive behavior that allegedly disrupted local digital markets and compromised fair business practices.

ARCON followed with a $37.5 million fine for airing advertisements without required approvals, stating that Meta ran ads that failed to comply with national advertising standards.

Additionally, the NDPC levied a $32.8 million fine, citing “persistent violations” of Nigeria’s data protection rules, particularly the unauthorized transfer of citizens’ personal data abroad.

“The investigations conducted from May 2021 to December 2023 uncovered invasive practices against data subjects in Nigeria,” said Adamu Abdullahi, Chief Executive of the FCCPC.

He added, “These findings were the result of joint efforts between our agency and the NDPC, and we remain committed to protecting Nigerian consumers.”

In court, Meta argued that the country’s data protection laws were being misapplied by regulators, particularly in relation to cross-border data transfers and user consent policies.

“We are committed to respecting local laws, but the NDPC’s requirements to seek prior approval for data transfers are not aligned with global data flow practices,” the company’s legal representative stated in court filings.

The NDPC also directed Meta to collaborate with approved institutions to produce and disseminate educational content for Nigerian users on the dangers of data misuse.

According to the commission, the content must clearly explain “manipulative and unfair data processing” and its effects on users’ health and financial wellbeing.

Meta criticized the order as excessive and impractical, arguing it had not been imposed on other international tech companies operating in Nigeria.

Although the court ruled against Meta, the company’s statement did not mention WhatsApp, raising uncertainty about whether the messaging app will be affected by any potential shutdown.

Facebook remains Nigeria’s most-used social media platform, serving tens of millions of users for communication, content sharing, and small business promotion.

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NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday

Published

21 hours ago

September 21, 2025

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News

JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.

Details later…

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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees

Published

1 day ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.