Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, may shut down its services in Nigeria. This comes after the Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld a ₦220 billion fine against the company for allegedly violating data privacy laws and abusing its market power.
The ruling, based on a long-running investigation, found Meta guilty of breaching data privacy laws, exploiting its market dominance, and failing to follow compliance procedures under Nigerian regulations.
Now, with Meta hinting at an exit, millions of Nigerians and the digital economy that thrives on these platforms are caught in the crossfire.
WhatsApp is the digital lifeline for businesses
Oluwafayokunmi Olutomiwa, 24, runs a branding and packaging business in Lagos, and she hit ₦100 million ($60,000) in revenue last year, all without a physical office. She closes her sales on WhatsApp.
“I use Instagram to spread awareness and WhatsApp is where I close sales,” she tells TechCabal. She stressed that real conversations happen with customers on the messaging app.
For Olutomiwa and thousands of others like her, WhatsApp isn’t optional. It’s how orders are taken, modified, and delivered, in real time. Replacing that system isn’t just a matter of switching apps, it would take time, money, and a lot of customer re-education.
Entrepreneurs and marketers will feel the shock first
Caroline Fabara, who runs WAB Digital, uses WhatsApp to connect businesses to customers via websites and ads. She doesn’t just chat on the platform – she uses it to train clients, manage sales, and coordinate teams.
Her clients run Facebook and Instagram ads that lead potential buyers straight into WhatsApp groups. From there, the sale is made.
“Businesses will have to rebuild their contact lists from scratch on new channels,” says Fabara . “You don’t have a CRM-ready email list to pivot to. You’re starting over, spending money to redirect customers.”
From food sellers using bots to take orders, to digital coaches running paid classes in group chats, Meta’s platforms power an entire digital economy. Starting over on other platforms means rebuilding trust, contact lists, and routines from scratch.
The backstory
The dispute dates back to 2021, when WhatsApp updated its privacy policy, which required users to accept new data-sharing terms or risk being locked out.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) accused Meta of forcing users into consent, violating privacy laws, and offering less protection compared to what users enjoy in Europe and other parts of the world.
After nearly three years of investigation, Nigerian authorities said Meta failed to get proper consent before collecting data, ignored local laws, and abused its dominance by offering worse terms in Nigeria than in places like Europe and other parts of the world.
Meta pushed back, saying the fine was unclear and unfair. It insisted users could choose not to use the app if they disagreed with the terms. But the tribunal didn’t buy that argument, and now Meta says it may shut down its services to avoid future legal uncertainty in Nigeria.
A threat with big consequences
The impact of a Meta pullout would be massive.
- Commerce: WhatsApp is the engine behind tens of thousands of small businesses. Losing it would create chaos, especially for vendors without websites or alternatives.
- Community: From church groups and school teachers to political activists and emergency responders, WhatsApp is how people stay informed and organised.
- Content Creation: Instagram and Facebook power the earnings of influencers, online vendors, and content creators. Their exit would dry up a major source of income.
- Connectivity: With WhatsApp’s 90 million users in Nigeria, cutting it off would leave a deep gap in the nation’s digital infrastructure.
Since opening its Lagos office in 2021, Meta has invested heavily in Nigeria. It has launched business support programs, funded tech hubs, and helped lay internet cables under the 2Africa project.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it provided grants to struggling businesses and training programs for young Nigerians. So why would a company that has invested so much now consider leaving?
Because, according to Meta, the legal environment has become too unpredictable. But Nigerian authorities argue the company must follow local rules just like it does in Europe and other parts of the world.
Is there a way forward?
This standoff shows the growing tension between tech giants and national governments. Regulators want to protect user rights. Companies want consistent rules and control over their platforms.
But this doesn’t have to end in a shutdown. Both sides could sit down, find common ground, and agree on clearer, fairer rules, without cutting off access for millions of Nigerians.
Because if WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram go dark in Nigeria, it won’t just be inconvenient. It will feel like a digital blackout. And the silence will be deafening.
