As the 60-day timeline given to WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated to pay a $220 million penalty and $35,000 to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) by Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal over data discrimination practices in Nigeria continues to count, a group, Techsocietal, has called for caution.
In a statement endorsed by its Executive Director, Temitope Ogundipe, the group said the unfolding dispute between Meta and Nigerian regulators signals a critical inflection point.
Entitled: Beyond the Meta vs. Nigeria Standoff: Putting People First in Platform Regulation, Ogundipe said: “On one side, a global tech giant is balking at what it sees as punitive enforcement measures and “unrealistic” regulatory demands. On the other, a sovereign nation is asserting its right to regulate digital platforms within its borders, often long overdue given the scale of influence these platforms wield.
“But lost in this standoff is the voice of the people, and especially those whose access to digital spaces is already precarious.
“At Techsocietal, we recognize that Nigeria, like other countries in the Global South, must shape platform accountability on its own terms. But such accountability must not come at the cost of cutting millions off from vital social, economic, and civic lifelines that platforms like Facebook and Instagram still provide, for entrepreneurs, for community organizers, for families, and for at-risk populations who have built support networks in these digital spaces.”
According to her, Meta’s potential exit may well be a calculation: with economic instability and relatively low advertising revenue, staying in Nigeria might not seem “worth it;” especially when faced with high penalties and complex regulatory demands.
But if Meta’s presence in Nigeria is only justified when profit margins are high, what does that say about the company’s long-term commitment to the very communities it claims to connect and empower?
“And equally, what model of regulation is Nigeria pursuing; one that genuinely centers safety, transparency, and rights, or one that might veer toward overreach, especially when regulatory instruments are vague? We cannot afford a regulatory model that is extractive rather than protective. Nor can we accept a platform governance model that treats African countries as expendable or peripheral,” Ogundipe wrote.
According to her, this moment is not just about fines or platforms, it is about how ‘we build resilient, rights-respecting, and inclusive digital futures in African contexts.’
Therefore, Techsocietal is asking for a people-first approach to platform accountability that values users not only as data points but as rights-holders; greater transparency from both regulators and platforms on what is at stake; and who bears the cost of any fallout; and a recognition that digital access is not a luxury, but increasingly a basic right tied to livelihood, learning, and voice.
“The question should not be “Can Meta afford to stay in Nigeria?” but rather, “How can Meta, regulators, and civil society co-create an ecosystem where rights, revenues, and responsibilities are shared and where the most vulnerable are not made collateral damage?”
“Techsocietal remains committed to supporting inclusive, transparent policymaking that upholds rights, fosters innovation, and keeps people, especially the most vulnerable, at the center of digital governance decisions,” she added.
Recall that the tribunal had upheld the $220 million penalty imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated, as well as $35,000 as reimbursement for the Commission’s investigation against the social media giant.
It had also dismissed the appeal of WhatsApp and Meta Platforms Incorporated regarding the $220 million penalty imposed by the FCCPC for alleged discriminatory practices in Nigeria.
In addition to the fine, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) ordered Meta to pay $35,000 to cover the “cost of investigation.” Other Nigerian agencies also levied penalties, with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) fining Meta N60 billion ($37.5 million), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) demanding $32.8 million, bringing the total to $290.3 million.
Meta said the fines could force it to shut down operations in the country. “The applicant may be forced to effectively shut down the Facebook and Instagram services in Nigeria in order to mitigate the risk of enforcement measures,” Meta said in court filings.
