The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says the threat by Meta to exit Nigeria due to the commission’s recent order will not exonerate the company from the outcome of a judicial process.
The FCCPC said this in a statement issued by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Ijagwu described the threat as a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.
He said the recent affirmation of FCCPC’s final order by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal required Meta to stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards consistent with international best practices.
The tribunal had awarded $220 million against Meta Platforms Incorporated and WhatsApp LLC as an administrative penalty for the violations.
The tribunal also awarded $35,000 to the FCCPC as the cost of an investigation.
Ijagwu stated: “The FCCPC investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (jointly referred to as ‘Meta Parties’) for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
Meta battles fines, threatens to shut Facebook, Instagram in Nigeria
“The Commission found that Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA (2018) and the NDPR.
“These infringements include denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation.
“Others are discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.”
Ijagwu said Meta had been fined for similar breaches in Texas ($1.5 billion) and was recently asked to pay $1.3 billion for violating the European Union (EU) Data Privacy Rules.
He said Meta had faced penalties in India, South Korea, France, and Australia for similar breaches.
“Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries; rather, they obeyed,” the FCCPC spokesman said.
Ijagwu added that the FCCPC remained committed to its pursuit of consumer protection and data privacy toward ensuring a fairer digital market in Nigeria.
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