Meta hit with $290M fine in Nigeria, threatens to suspend Facebook and Instagram
Meta faces a $290 million fine in Nigeria following a landmark ruling over alleged data privacy breaches and unfair business practices, raising the possibility of Facebook and Instagram being suspended in the country.
The penalties, announced in April 2025, follow a 38-month investigation led by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). They include $220 million for consumer protection violations, $37.5 million for unauthorized advertising, and $32.8 million for breaches of Nigeria’s Data Protection Act of 2023.
On April 25, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the regulators’ findings, dismissing Meta’s appeal and ordering full compliance by June 30, 2025. Meta has vowed to challenge the ruling further, labeling the sanctions “unrealistic,” and warning it may suspend operations in Nigeria altogether.
Such a move could disrupt access for more than 36 million social media users and severely impact businesses that depend on the platforms for marketing and communication across Africa’s most populous country.
The standoff signals Nigeria’s growing determination to assert control over global tech giants, in line with broader international efforts to strengthen digital sovereignty and safeguard user data. As the compliance deadline approaches, the outcome of Meta’s appeal will be pivotal in shaping the future of Nigeria’s digital economy and the role of Big Tech within it.