Meta is threatening to withdraw Facebook and Instagram from Nigeria after receiving a $290 million fine for violating the country’s privacy laws.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused Meta of denying Nigerians control over their data and transferring it without consent.
Meta’s appeal against the fine, which was issued in July 2024, was rejected in April 2025. The company’s massive presence in Nigeria—Facebook has 51.2 million users, and Instagram has 12.6 million—makes the fine a significant issue.
Despite this, Meta’s potential withdrawal from Nigeria seems unlikely, as the country is projected to become the third most populous in the world by 2050, with an expanding online user base.