Nigeria has accused Meta of orchestrating a “negative PR campaign” to pressure authorities after the tech giant threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from the country over a $220 million fine.
Catch up quick
- The fine was imposed in 2023 by Nigeria’s consumer protection agency for alleged violations of competition laws.
- Meta appealed the penalty, but a court in Abuja recently dismissed the challenge.
- Separate sanctions were also issued by Nigeria’s data protection and advertising agencies.
What they’re saying
Meta claims Nigerian regulators unfairly interpreted the law and warned that it “may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria” to avoid enforcement risks.
- It did not mention WhatsApp in the shutdown threat.
The other side
Nigeria’s consumer watchdog dismissed the move, saying Meta’s threat “does not absolve” it from responsibility after losing in court.
Why it matters
Meta’s platforms are vital in Nigeria — especially WhatsApp and Facebook — with around 51 million users on WhatsApp alone.
- The tools are essential for small businesses that rely on them for marketing and sales.
What to watch
Any suspension of Meta services could disrupt digital commerce and communication for millions of Nigerians.
Source: Semafor
