Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has warned that it might shut down both platforms in Nigeria if the government insists on collecting a $290 million fine and enforcing strict data rules.
Meta made the threat in court documents after losing an appeal in April 2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court upheld the fine and ordered the company to pay it by the end of June 2025.
“If we fail to comply, we may be forced to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria to avoid further action,” Meta stated in the court filings, according to the BBC.
The fine came from three government agencies, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). The FCCPC had earlier accused Meta of violating data and consumer protection laws through its data-sharing activities on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Adamu Abdullahi, the acting Executive Chairman of the FCCPC, said Meta denied Nigerians control over their data, shared information without their permission, and used its position unfairly.
“We found that Meta engaged in invasive practices that hurt consumers,” Abdullahi said, though he did not give details.
The NDPC also asked Meta to get approval before transferring users’ personal data out of Nigeria and to add an icon on its platforms linking to government-approved videos that explain the dangers of manipulative data practices.
Meta said these demands are not practical. “Requiring approval before every cross-border data transfer doesn’t match Nigeria’s own data protection laws,” the company argued.
Facebook is one of the most used social media platforms in Nigeria, especially by small businesses that use it for marketing and customer service. Many users also depend on it for communication and news.
A shutdown could hurt Nigeria’s digital economy. Some Nigerians have expressed concern, saying they hope the government and Meta can reach an agreement that protects users’ rights without harming online access.
The case continues as both sides stand firm on their positions.