Quitting Nigeria Won’t Shield Meta From Accountability, Says FCCPC

 In response to Meta’s recent suggestion that it may exit Nigeria over regulatory actions, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has made it clear: leaving the country will not absolve the tech giant of its legal obligations.

Meta Platforms Inc., along with its subsidiary WhatsApp (collectively referred to as "Meta Parties"), is currently under scrutiny for alleged violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

According to the FCCPC, an extensive investigation revealed that Meta had committed multiple and repeated infringements, including:

Denying Nigerians control over their personal data

Unauthorized transfer and sharing of user data

Discriminatory practices against Nigerian users

Abusing market dominance by enforcing unfair privacy policies

The Commission noted that Meta has faced similar regulatory actions worldwide, including a $1.5 billion fine in Texas and a $1.3 billion penalty in the EU for data privacy breaches. In those instances, Meta complied with local laws without threatening to exit.

The FCCPC criticized Meta’s alleged "blackmail tactics", suggesting the exit threat is a calculated move to manipulate public sentiment and pressure regulators.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has affirmed the FCCPC’s final order, mandating Meta to cease exploitative practices, comply with Nigerian laws, and uphold consumer rights in line with global standards.

“Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process,” said Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC.

The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerian consumers and advancing data privacy in the country’s digital economy.