NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO META’S SHUTDOWN THREAT

The Federal Government has responded to Meta’s threat to withdraw WhatsApp and other services from Nigeria, insisting that such a move will not shield the tech giant from the consequences of legal proceedings.

In a statement released on Saturday by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Commission stated that Meta—owners of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—must comply with Nigerian laws regardless of their shutdown warnings.

Ijagwu described Meta’s threat as a calculated attempt to provoke public backlash and pressure the FCCPC into reversing its enforcement actions. He stressed that the company must align its practices with Nigerian regulations and international best standards.

This comes after the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld FCCPC’s final order, which directed Meta to halt practices deemed exploitative to Nigerian consumers.

Earlier, the tribunal imposed a $220 million administrative penalty on Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC for repeated violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). An additional $35,000 was awarded to the FCCPC to cover investigation costs.

According to the FCCPC, its investigations revealed that Meta engaged in multiple and persistent breaches of both the FCCPA and NDPR.