The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has firmly reiterated its stance that Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, must comply with Nigerian laws, despite the tech giant’s threat to leave the country.
In a statement issued Saturday by FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the commission stressed that Meta’s exit or resistance to penalties would not shield it from the consequences of its alleged misconduct.
This development follows FCCPC’s July 2024 imposition of a $220 million fine on Meta, citing multiple violations of Nigeria’s data privacy laws. The penalty stemmed from a joint investigation with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which scrutinised Meta’s practices from May 2021 to December 2023.
Recall that Meta, through WhatsApp, has since threatened to appeal the fine and potentially withdraw its services from Nigeria.
However, the FCCPC maintained that no company is above the law, regardless of its global influence. “Compliance is not optional,” Ijagwu said. “Meta must answer for its actions under Nigerian jurisdiction.”
