FCCPC TO META: COMPLY WITH NIGERIAN LAW, EXIT THREATS WON’T ERASE LIABILITIES
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a firm response to Meta Platforms Inc., insisting that the tech giant must comply with Nigerian laws despite its repeated threats to exit the country.
In a statement released on Saturday by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC emphasized that Meta’s exit threats—following a $220 million fine—do not negate its legal responsibilities or liabilities in Nigeria.
The dispute, which originated in 2024, centers around allegations of data privacy violations by Meta’s subsidiaries, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. The fine, imposed in July 2024, followed a joint investigation conducted by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), covering the company’s practices between May 2021 and December 2023.
Despite WhatsApp’s intention to appeal the fine and Meta’s subsequent threats to shut down its operations in Nigeria, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the FCCPC’s sanction on April 25.
In its latest statement, the FCCPC described Meta’s response as a “calculated move” aimed at inciting public sympathy and pressuring the commission to reverse its decision. It accused the company of repeatedly violating Nigerians’ data rights, including unauthorized data sharing, discriminatory policies, and unfair use of its market dominance.
“Meta has faced similar fines elsewhere—$1.5 billion in Texas and $1.3 billion for violating EU data rules—but did not resort to exit threats in those jurisdictions. In India, South Korea, France, and Australia, the company complied,” the FCCPC noted.
The commission added that the tribunal’s ruling mandates Meta to align its operations with Nigerian standards, stop exploitative practices, and respect consumer rights in accordance with global best practices.
“No entity is above the law,” the agency stated. “Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities resulting from a lawful judicial process.”
Reaffirming its dedication to safeguarding digital rights, the FCCPC concluded by pledging to uphold consumer protection and enforce data privacy laws to ensure a fair digital marketplace in Nigeria.
