Meta earlier on said it “may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed Meta Platforms Inc’s threat to exit Nigeria, declaring that such a move would not void its legal obligations or a $220 million fine imposed for data protection violations.
Meta had warned earlier on Saturday that it “may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria” following its failed court bid to overturn the FCCPC’s penalty. The regulator swiftly countered, describing the statement as “a calculated” tactic to “induce negative public reaction” and pressure a reversal of the sanction.
“Meta’s threat does not absolve it of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process,” the FCCPC stated. The Commission affirmed that investigations confirmed “multiple and repeated infringements” of Nigeria’s FCCPA (2018) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), including “denying Nigerians the right to fair treatment.”