FCCPC: Meta Threatening To Leave Nigeria Doesn’t Absolve It Of Liability

FCCPC has insisted that Meta, despite its threats to exit Nigeria, must face consequences for data breaches and unfair practices

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has taken a firm stance against tech giant Meta Platforms and its subsidiary, WhatsApp, warning that threats to withdraw services from Nigeria will not excuse the company from legal accountability.

In a strongly-worded statement issued by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC, the Commission described Meta’s reported claim that it may be forced to exit Nigeria as a “calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.”

The Commission had earlier investigated Meta and WhatsApp—referred to in the statement as “Meta Parties”—over alleged violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

According to the FCCPC, it found that “Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA (2018) and the NDPR.” These alleged breaches included denying Nigerians control over their personal data, unauthorised data sharing, discriminatory treatment of Nigerian users compared to other regions, and “abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.”

The Commission highlighted that Meta has faced similar scrutiny and penalties in other jurisdictions, citing fines of $1.5 billion in Texas and $1.3 billion in the European Union over data privacy violations. “But Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries. They obeyed,” the statement noted pointedly.

Reinforcing the legitimacy of its action, the FCCPC stated that “the recent affirmation of FCCPC’s final order by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights, consistent with international best practices.”

The Commission also clarified that leaving the country would not shield Meta from responsibility: “Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process.”

Concluding, the FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to consumer rights and data protection. “For the avoidance of doubt, the FCCPC remains committed in its pursuit of consumer protection and data privacy towards ensuring a fairer digital market in Nigeria,” the statement declared.