Access to Facebook and Instagram may soon be restricted in Nigeria, as tech giant Meta has warned it could be forced to shut down both platforms due to mounting regulatory challenges and steep financial penalties imposed by Nigerian authorities. The warning follows a failed legal bid by Meta to overturn fines totaling more than $290 million issued by three regulatory bodies:
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$220 million by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for alleged anti-competitive behavior
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$37.5 million by the advertising regulator for unapproved advertising
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$32.8 million by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) for violations of data privacy laws
In court filings submitted to a federal high court in Abuja, Meta stated that these “unrealistic” regulatory demands and penalties could make its operations in Nigeria untenable, and it may have no choice but to “effectively shut down” Facebook and Instagram services in the country by the end of June 2025 if enforcement proceeds.
Notably, WhatsApp—also owned by Meta—was not mentioned in the filing.
With tens of millions of Nigerians relying on Facebook daily for communication, business, and news, the possible shutdown could have widespread economic and social implications, especially for digital entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Meta has yet to issue a public statement outlining its next steps. The Nigerian government has also not commented on whether there will be room for negotiation before the court's deadline.