Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has responded firmly to reports that WhatsApp—owned by Meta Platforms Inc.—might leave the country over regulatory challenges. The Commission made it clear: no company is above the law, and threatening to exit won’t erase legal obligations.
The controversy stems from recent FCCPC investigations into Meta and WhatsApp, collectively referred to as the “Meta Parties,” for alleged breaches of Nigeria’s competition and data protection laws. The Commission found repeated violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
Key issues identified include:
- Unauthorized sharing of Nigerian users’ data.
- Denying users control over their personal information.
- Treating Nigerian users unfairly compared to users in other countries.
- Imposing exploitative privacy policies due to Meta’s market dominance.
In its statement, the FCCPC accused Meta of attempting to sway public opinion and pressure regulators by publicly suggesting a potential exit from Nigeria. It also pointed out that Meta has faced similar enforcement actions in the U.S., EU, India, South Korea, France, and Australia—none of which led to exit threats.
A recent ruling by Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal supported the FCCPC’s order, directing Meta to comply with Nigerian regulations, cease exploitative practices, and respect consumer rights in line with global standards.
The threat to exit the Nigerian market does not nullify the legal consequences of an already adjudicated process,” the FCCPC stated.
The Commission reaffirmed its stance: protecting Nigerian consumers and ensuring digital fairness remain top priorities.
