Nigeria’s $290M Fines Could Force Facebook and Instagram Blackout

Nigerian regulatory agencies have imposed $290 million in fines on Meta for violations including data privacy breaches and anti-competitive practices between 2021-2023. Meta has threatened to shut down Facebook and Instagram in response, calling the demands “unrealistic.” A Nigerian court dismissed Meta’s appeal, ordering payment by June 2025. The potential blackout would affect over 33 million Nigerian users and disrupt countless small businesses that depend on these platforms.

A trio of Nigerian regulatory agencies has slapped Meta with massive fines totaling over $290 million for alleged violations involving Facebook and Instagram. The penalties, equivalent to ₦436 billion, were imposed between May 2021 and December 2023 for data privacy violations, unapproved advertising, and anti-competitive practices.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) issued the largest fine at $220 million, citing Meta’s anti-competitive behavior. The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) added a $37.5 million penalty for non-compliant advertising content. The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) contributed $32.8 million more for data privacy breaches.

Meta faces serious allegations including sharing Nigerian users’ data without proper consent, discrimination against Nigerian users compared to other regions, and imposing unfair privacy policies. Regulators also claim the company ran unapproved ads and failed to follow local data protection laws.

In response, Meta has threatened to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria. The company called the regulatory demands “unrealistic.” Nigerian authorities view this threat as a form of pressure and insist that leaving the country won’t free Meta from its legal obligations.

A Nigerian court recently dismissed Meta’s appeal and ordered payment by June 2025. The FCCPC warned that refusal to pay or withdrawal could trigger additional sanctions, including potential asset seizures.

If Meta follows through with its shutdown threat, over 33 million Nigerian Facebook users and millions more on Instagram would lose access. The digital economy disruption would affect countless small businesses that rely on these platforms for marketing and sales. The case demonstrates a global trend toward stricter regulation of tech giants across multiple jurisdictions. The move would disrupt countless businesses, influencers, and advertisers who rely on these platforms for outreach and commerce.

Critics note that Meta has complied with similar fines in Europe and the United States without threatening withdrawal from those markets. The Nigerian government aims to enforce stricter tech regulations that align with global standards, while Meta has yet to announce its final decision regarding operations in the country.