The Nigerian Federal Government is standing firm on its decision to make global tech powerhouse Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) pay a hefty \$290 million fine. The fine, imposed by regulatory bodies, stems from multiple alleged violations—ranging from breaches of data privacy laws to unauthorized advertisements and failure to comply with Nigeria’s digital protection standards.
Despite Meta’s attempt to challenge the sanctions in court, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in favor of the government, demanding full compliance before June ends. In a bold move, FG has doubled down, insisting Meta must respect Nigeria’s laws and settle the fine.
Meta, on the other hand, has labeled the fine “unrealistic,” hinting that if the standoff continues, it may consider pulling Facebook and Instagram services from the Nigerian market altogether—a development that could spark a digital uproar. As tensions rise, Nigerians await Meta’s next move in what could become a major tech-versus-government showdown.