The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said it will not be intimidated by Meta's threat to exit Nigeria following a recent $220 million fine imposed on the company for violating consumer rights and data protection laws.
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp and Facebook, had reportedly raised the possibility of leaving Nigeria in reaction to a court-backed penalty for engaging in discriminatory and exploitative practices against Nigerian users.
Reacting to the development, FCCPC's Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijageu, described the threat as a "calculated move" to manipulate public sentiment and exert pressure on the Commission to reverse its decision.
According to the FCCPC, Meta and its subsidiaries repeatedly violated both the FCCPC Act and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) by mishandling user data, transferring it without consent, applying unfair privacy policies, and treating Nigerian users differently from users in other regions.
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Ijageu noted that while Meta had paid similar or higher fines in countries such as the U.S., E.U., and South Korea, the company never threatened to withdraw from those markets. "But in Nigeria, they are resorting to blackmail," he said.
The FCCPC affirmed that its final order, backed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, stands. It mandates Meta to revise its practices, comply with local laws, and respect Nigerian consumer rights in line with global standards.
"The Commission remains resolute in ensuring fair digital markets and protecting consumer data," Ijageu said.
