The Federal Government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has stated that WhatsApp’s threat to leave Nigeria in response to a recent directive from the Commission will not shield the company from the legal consequences of an ongoing judicial process.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC emphasized that Meta and its subsidiaries must comply with Nigerian laws.
Ijagwu described WhatsApp’s threat as a strategic attempt to provoke public backlash and pressure the FCCPC into reversing its stance.
He noted that the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal had recently upheld the FCCPC’s final order, which mandates Meta to cease exploitative practices against Nigerian users and align its operations with national regulations and global best practices.
Ijagwu also revealed that the tribunal imposed a \$220 million administrative fine on Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC for their violations.
In retaliation, Meta has reportedly threatened to discontinue its Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria, protesting the substantial penalties levied by various government bodies.
Additionally, the tribunal awarded the FCCPC $35,000 to cover the cost of its investigation.
”The FCCPC investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (jointly referred to as “Meta Parties”) for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA, and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, NDPR.
”The Commission found that Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA (2018) and the NDPR.
”These infringements include denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation.
”Others are discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies,” he said.
According to Ijagwu, Meta had been fined for similar breaches in Texas (1.5 billion dollars ) and only recently was asked to pay 1.3 billion dollars for violating European Union, EU, Data Privacy Rules.
He reiterated that Meta had faced penalties in India, South Korea, France and Australia for similar breaches.
The Commission’s director further stated that Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries rather, they obeyed.
He expressed the Commission’s commitment in its pursuit of consumer protection and data privacy toward ensuring a fairer digital market in the country.
