FCCPC insists Meta’s threat to leave Nigeria doesn’t absolve tech giant of liabilities

*Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission asserts that Meta’s threat to leave Nigeria does not absolve the Big Tech of liabilities for the outcome of the recent judicial process awarding it $220 million over infractions in the West African country’s digital marketplace

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said Meta, parent company owner of WhatsApp claiming that it may be forced to exit the country due to the Commission’s recent order appears to be a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring it to reconsider its decision.

ConsumerConnect had reported that FCCPC investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (jointly referred to as “Meta Parties”) for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

Recently, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal ordered WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated to pay a $220 million penalty and $35,000 to FCCPC within 60 days over data discrimination practices in the country.

The Tribunal upheld the $220 million penalty imposed by FCCPC on WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated, as well as $35,000 as reimbursement for the Commission’s investigation against the social media giant.

Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at FCCPC, in a statement Saturday, May 3, 2025, also said the Commission reclalled how the regulatory Commission found that Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA (2018) and the NDPR.

The market regulatory Commission emphasised these infringements included denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.

Interestingly, Meta had been fined for similar breaches in Texas ($1.5b) and only recently was asked to pay $1.3 Billion for violating E.U. Data Privacy Rules.

The Director of Corporate Affairs stated that elsewhere in India, South Korea, France and Australia, Meta had faced varying penalties for similar breaches.

The statement also noted: “But Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries. They obeyed.”

The FCCPC further said the recent affirmation of its final order by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law.

It mandated the global tech giant to stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change the company’s practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights, consistent with international best practices.

The Commission restated: “Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the FCCPC remains committed in its pursuit of consumer protection and data privacy towards ensuring a fairer digital market in Nigeria.”