Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has indicated that it might stop offering its services in Nigeria. This announcement follows substantial fines imposed by several regulatory agencies in the country.

The Nigerian government has issued nearly $300 million in fines to Meta. The company referred to these penalties as “unrealistic,” emphasizing that they could affect its operations in the region.

In July 2024, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) fined Meta $220 million, accusing the company of exploiting Nigerian users and failing to adhere to local data protection rules.

The FCCPC noted that Meta did not employ a Data Protection Compliance Organization or submit the required audit reports under Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulation for two years in a row.

Additionally, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) fined Meta $37.5 million for running unapproved advertisements. The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) added another $32.8 million fine for alleged breaches of data privacy.

Meta contested these fines in court, but the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld the penalties. The court instructed the company to make payments by the end of June 2024, a deadline Meta has suggested it may not meet.

Court documents revealed that Meta is considering suspending Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria to avoid enforcement measures.

The NDPC also claimed that Meta’s data practices could harm Nigerian users’ health and finances. Meta countered these allegations, arguing that the agency had misinterpreted data privacy laws.