The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has condemned Meta Platforms Inc. for threatening to withdraw Facebook and Instagram services from Nigeria due to regulatory pressure.
The regulatory company insisted that any exit does not absolve it of past violations.
As contained in a statement issued by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, the Commission accused Meta of attempting to manipulate public perception and pressure regulators into reversing recent enforcement decisions.
According to the FCCPC, Meta’s threat to exit is a “calculated move” to stir negative sentiment and avoid accountability.
The Commission emphasised that Meta Platforms Inc. and its subsidiary, WhatsApp — collectively referred to as the “Meta Parties” — are facing serious allegations of breaching Nigeria’s consumer and data protection laws, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
Among the infractions listed were:
Denying Nigerian users meaningful control over their data
Unauthorized sharing and cross-border transfer of user information
Discriminatory practices that place Nigerian users at a disadvantage compared to users in other regions
Exploiting their dominant market position through imposition of unfair privacy policies
“These are not vague claims,” the FCCPC noted. “They are findings from a comprehensive investigation which shows the Meta Parties persistently violated Nigerian law and undermined consumer rights.”
The Commission also highlighted that Meta has complied with similar sanctions in other countries, including fines of $1.5 billion in Texas and $1.3 billion in the European Union, as well as enforcement actions in South Korea, France, India, and Australia — none of which led to threats of service withdrawal.
“In all those countries, Meta obeyed the law. In Nigeria, they turn to blackmail,” the FCCPC stated.
The agency further referenced a recent judgment by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, which upheld a final order compelling Meta to align its operations in Nigeria with local laws. The order requires the company to review its data handling practices, respect consumer rights, and comply with both the FCCPA and NDPR, in line with international standards.
The FCCPC made it clear that any attempt by Meta to exit the Nigerian market will not stop the legal and regulatory processes already in motion, nor will it wipe away previous violations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the FCCPC remains committed to protecting consumers, upholding data privacy, and ensuring a fair digital economy in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
