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  • Alleged false claim against Tinubu: Sowore, Meta, X get new date for arraignment

    Alleged false claim against Tinubu: Sowore, Meta, X get new date for arraignment

    The planned arraignment of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2023 Omoyele Sowore and two others before a Federal High Court in Abuja has been postponed to December 2 owing to his absence in court.

    Sowore was to be arraigned along with X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp on a five-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN).

    Sowore is accused of making a false claim against the person of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in a post he made on his X and Facebook accounts.

    The defendants are, in the charge, accused of contravening the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Criminal Code Act. 

    At the mention of the case on Wednesday, lawyer to the prosecution, Akinlolu Kehinde, (SAN) said the business of the day was the arraignment of the defendants.

    Kehinde noted that the other defendants were present in court except the first defendant (Sowore), who was not only  absent, but also not represented by a lawyer.

    He told the court that the prosecution got a letter on Tuesday night from “one Deji Adeyanju,” who claimed to be the lead lawyer to the first defendant and requested for an adjournment.

    Kehinde said the letter was a ploy to delay the proceedings, adding that it was the prosecution’s position that the letter was grossly in bad faith and meant to further delay hearing in the case. 

    He recalled that the arraignment could not hold on September 30 because Sowore claimed that he had not been served, even “though the charge was already in the media and the defendant was in court.

    “This is a disrespect to this court and it is time your lordship issue a bench warrant for him so that he should be kept in custody until next adjourned date so that nobody will be looking for him,” he said.

    Kehinde further urged the court to ignore Adeyanju’s letter, describing it as “a mischievous letter.”

    He noted that all court documents filed before on behalf of Sowore were by Femi Falana (SAN) as lead lawyer and prayed the court to disregard Adeyanju’s letter and issue the bench warrant.

    Lawyer to Facebook,  Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo (SAN), agreed with Kehinde’s position and noted that the letter he also received from Adeyanju was disrespectful to the parties and the court.

    Tayo-Oyetibo told the court that he travelled from Lagos for the hearing and received the letter at Abuja airport on Tuesday. 

    He added that the letter appeared to refer to a different case, as it mentioned November 4 as against November 5, adding that despite their assumption that the hearing date was November 4, neither Sowore nor his lawyer came to court.

    Tayo-Oyetibo claimed that Sowore has accused him on social media of taking side with the Federal Government against him.

    The second defendant’s lawyer said he was not objecting to the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant.

    Read Also: Sowore escapes arrest warrant, Court fixes December 2 for arraignment

    Lawyer to X Incorp, Christabel Ndokwelu said her client has not been properly served with the charge, though it was served with a notice November 5 hearing.

    Ndokwelu urged the court to direct the prosecution to ensure proper service and said his client was not ready for arraignment.

    Following Ndokwelu’s claim, Justice Mohammed Umar went through the court’s file and found that Facebook and X were served electronically.

    Ruling, Justice Umar noted that there was no need to rush and declined to issue the bench warrant sought by the prosecution.

    The judge directed the prosecution to serve Ndokwelu with a copy of the charge in the courtroom.

    He ordered that Sowore’ should be served with a hearing notice and adjourned till December 2 for arraignment.

  • Meta, NDPB, others preach collaboration for online safety

    Meta, NDPB, others preach collaboration for online safety

    Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Federal Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and other experts in the information communication technology (ICT) space yesterday pushed for collaboration as a strategy to tackle rising online challenges, including cyberbullying, sextortion and others.

    Speaking at Online Safety Forum 2025 in Lagos which was organised by Techsocietal with: ‘Digital Access, Accountable Platforms and Onclusive Regulation’ as theme, they said only a multi-stakeholder approach will ensure online safety while upholding the fundamental human right of citizens.

    Safety Policy Manager, Africa, Middle East & Turkey at Meta, Sylvia Musalagani, who is a leading advocate for online safety, said the organization ensures content integrity as well as use artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure safety. 

    Speaking during a panel discussion on: ‘Future at the Edges: Online Safety in the Age of AI, Deepfakes and Emerging Tech’, she said Meta as a company evaluates content, whether human or AI generated based on the company’s community rules, adding that should there be violations, the company will do the needful.

    She stressed the need for collaboration to address all the challenges that come with the boost in online engagements.

    The Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Mr Gbenga Sesan, in his keynote said there is the need for a multi-stakeholder approach involving regulators, civil society organisations (CSOs) and security agencies to ensure online security.

    Sesan said security, safety and right are intrinsically intertwined dismissing the notion of a “paradox of security versus rights.

    “What we must do is have the difficult task of making sure that human rights is a security issue, security is a human rights issue.

    “We can keep children safe, we can keep everyone safe online without disrespecting the rights of other citizens,’’ he said.

    According to him, this balance had been achieved elsewhere and requires all key players to cooperate.

    Read Also: FG provides clarification on$220 million fine imposed on Meta for data breaches

     Sesan cautioned against unilateral action, saying regulators could not on their own make rules without balanced impact, civil society cannot simply reject every proposal, and security agencies cannot solely rely on clamping down.

    “Everybody needs to come around the table and adjust their plans until it becomes fair,’’ he said.

    Ibukunoluwa Owa of NDPB said the threat has become more serious, almost posing existential risks, including video, voice and cloned images of people circulating all over the place online. She lamented the difficulty in regulation because innovation moves in the speed of lightning. She said the development has kept regulators on their toes. She frowned at the ongoing development in which sectors such as telecom and banking use their customers data without their consent for advertising through predictive analysis. “The law states that any decision that is taken about you without your decision is illegal,” she insisted.

    Head, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Response Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, said amendments to the existing laws have been made to take care of emerging online challenges, hoping that will take effect by next year.

    She said there are beautiful laws in place but the problem has always been implementation and funding.

     Also speaking, Pioneer Centre Manager, Mirabel Centre, Juliet Olumuyiwa,  highlighted the increasing sophistication of perpetrators who could create “fake bodies” and exploit a person’s likeness without consent, using advancements in technology like AI.

    Olumuyiwa said perpetrators were advancing and no longer need the victim’s involvement but can simply use their face and likeness to design a fabricated image.

    She said this non-consensual exploitation inflicts significant psychological and emotional stress on the victims.

    According to her, individuals must possess these image based rights to grant them a means of escape and recovery, emphasising that any use of a person’s image should be consent to.

    Kingsley Owadara of ChatVe in his final note said any problem that was created by AI will be solved by AI while Ibukunoluwa advised everyone to ‘educate yourself’.

    The experts however said the introduction of digital tools and platforms is seen as a key strategy to bridge the gap and facilitate the reporting process.

    Also, other panel which focused on ‘From Online Harms to Justice Pathway: MyLawbrella Journey and What Next’ underscored the urgent need for enhanced image-based rights and improved digital tools to support young survivors of online abuse as efforts to amend existing laws continue.

    MyLawbrella 2.0 unveiled on the occasion is an online solution that survivors of sextortion navigate Justice.

  • FG, Meta to settle $32.8 million data privacy sanction out of court

    FG, Meta to settle $32.8 million data privacy sanction out of court

    The Federal Government and Meta Platforms Inc., parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have agreed on an out-of-court settlement of a $32.8 million fine against the latter.

    The fine was imposed on the Meta Platforms for alleged data privacy violations involving Nigerian users.

    Lawyers to the two parties disclosed this yesterday before the judge, James Omotosho, of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) had in February, fined Meta $32.8 million for allegedly breaching Nigeria’s Data Protection Act.

    The NDPC said the sanction followed a petition accusing the company of using Nigerians’ personal data for behavioural advertising without consent, failing to file its 2022 audit, transferring data abroad, and processing the information of non-users.

    It later filed an ex parte motion in court to compel the company to comply with its orders.

    However, Meta also sued NDPC, contending that the commission denied it a fair hearing in the $32.8 million award. Its lawyer, Gbolahan Elias, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asked the court to void the orders.

    But NDPC’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, also a SAN, urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing Meta’s filings as defective.

    In a preliminary objection, the NDPC argued that Meta’s suit was “grossly incompetent” and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

    The commission claimed Meta failed to comply with rules guiding judicial review under Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

    After hearing both parties on 16 July, Mr Omotosho allowed Meta to pursue judicial review but refused to halt NDPC’s orders. He adjourned the matter until 3 October for a consolidated ruling on NDPC’s objection and Meta’s motion to amend its filings.

    Settlement discussion

    At the scheduled ruling, Meta’s lawyer, Fred Onwuobia, a SAN, urged the court to defer the ruling on the preliminary objection and the motion on notice to amend, saying the parties had “reached an advanced stage of settlement”.

    He said settlement was the option both parties had resolved to take, highlighting that they were concerned the ruling could affect ongoing discussions. “The draft terms of settlement have been exchanged,” he said, urging the court to grant an adjournment for a report of settlement.

    Mr Adedipe confirmed Meta’s position and said that the “settlement discussions have advanced appreciably.” He also urged the court to adjourn so they could return with settlement terms for adoption as a “consent judgement.”

    Read Also: FG provides clarification on $220 million fine imposed on Meta for data breaches

    Judge Omotosho said the court encouraged settlement and was “inclined not to deliver the ruling today.” He adjourned until 31 October for either a ruling or adoption of the settlement terms.

    NDPC’s orders and Meta’s response

    The fine against Meta was part of efforts by the NDPC to enforce the Nigeria Data Protection Act, which President Bola Tinubu signed into law in June 2023.

    The dispute began after the commission issued its Final Orders on 18 February and imposed a $32.8 million remedial fee and eight corrective directives over alleged violations of the law.

    It explained that the decision followed a petition from the civil society group, the Personal Data Protection Awareness Initiative, which accused Meta of engaging in behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram without explicit consent from Nigerian users.

    The NDPC accused Meta of processing data of non-users and failing to file its 2022 compliance audit. It also alleged the company transferred Nigerians’ personal data abroad without authorisation and processed sensitive information, including that of minors, for targeted advertising.

    The commission ordered Meta to conduct a data processing impact assessment reflecting Nigeria’s privacy context, update privacy policies, seek express consent before behavioural advertising, and halt the transfer of personal data outside the country without approval.

    But Meta rejected both the findings and the process that led to them.

    Through a suit filed on 19 March, the company said the NDPC denied it a fair hearing and due process.  Its lawyer, Mr Elias, asked the Federal High Court to quash the enforcement orders, arguing they breached Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.

    Mr Adedipe opposed the suit and urged the court to dismiss it. He said Meta’s suit and the statements attached to its ex parte motion were inconsistent, making the case incompetent.

    He also argued that Meta was attempting to introduce new prayers after the court had ruled on its ex parte application, an amendment not permitted under the rules of court.

    In a similar action, the commission fined Multichoice Nigeria N766.2 million for breaching the same law. It found that the Pay-TV operator violated the privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who were not subscribers, and also carried out unauthorised cross-border transfers of Nigerians’ personal data.

  • FG provides clarification on$220 million fine imposed on Meta for data breaches

    FG provides clarification on$220 million fine imposed on Meta for data breaches

    The Federal Government has provided clarifications and insights on the on-going investigation launched against Meta, a social media platform for data infractions.

     The government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)  had recently imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for data breaches.

     However, the National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the probe of Meta Platforms Inc. required multi-agency approach to ensure a thorough and detailed investigation with appropriate mechanisms to resolve the issues.

     Dr Olatunji said NDPC is involved in the probe and the fine imposed, but with an approach that focused on dispute resolution with involvement of major stakeholders within the ecosystem.

     Dr Olatunji made the clarification at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja, during the September Edition of Devs in Government, an initiative of the Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani to equip workers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government with digital knowledge and skills.

     In the September Edition with the theme, ” innovating with privacy: building trust in government  digital services “,  over 500 workers participated in the training with resources persons drawn from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), the World Bank and other private institutions.

    Read Also: Ondo police arrest ‘notorious gunrunner’ supplying arms to Osun, Kogi, Edo, Kwara

     The NDPC boss said the probe of Meta had reached a resolution point, stressing that the administration would not want the matter to be unnecessarily sensationalised.

     “We are concerned about the ways and manners in which data of citizens are collected and managed in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

     ” In so doing, we also consider the economic values for the citizens and the country and we want the global best standards and practices to be entrenched here, so our approach is to ensure 100 percent compliance with the law. We are not necessarily being punitive. However, any institution that fails to cooperate or comply with our laws would be sanctioned,” Dr Olatunji said.

     Dr Olatunji who took participants through the training session with emphasis on Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, Data breaches in United States and India, and the challenges of deployment of government digital services among others, canvassed for trust, integrity and responsibility in data management.

     He said: ” The future of government is digital, but the success of digital governance will depend on one thing above all. Trust and privacy is the foundation of that trust.

     “Deploying trusted digital services is not a task for government alone, it requires all of us across public institutions, the private sector, the civil society and even the citizens working together to embed accountability, transparency and responsibility into every digital service.

     “Together we can build a citizen centric, innovative digital nation that others will look to as a model of trust and progress. “

     Amongst the resource persons who deliver lectures at the training were Mr Akeem Ajijola, a Cybersecurity expert,  Dr Thuweba Diwani, head of projects at DTC/ GIZ,  Mr Jide Ayodeji from Quadcore Technologies, and Barrister Babatunde Bamigboye, head of Regulations and  compliance, NDPC.

  • FG provides clarification on $220 million fine imposed on Meta for data breaches

    FG provides clarification on $220 million fine imposed on Meta for data breaches

     The federal government has provided clarifications and insights on the ongoing investigation launched against Meta, a social media platform, for data infractions.

    The government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), had in recent times imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for data breaches.

    However, the National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the probe of Meta Platforms Inc. required a multi-agency approach to ensure a thorough and detailed investigation with appropriate mechanisms to resolve the issues.

    Dr Olatunji said NDPC is involved in the probe and the fine imposed, but with an approach that focuses on dispute resolution with the involvement of major stakeholders within the ecosystem.

    Dr Olatunji made the clarification at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja, during the September Edition of Devs in Government, an initiative of the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, to equip workers of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government with digital knowledge and skills.

    READ ALSO: Alleged terrorism: ‘You have case to answer,’ Court tells Nnamdi Kanu 

    In the September Edition with the theme, ” innovating with privacy: building trust in government digital services “,  over 500 workers participated in the training with resource persons drawn from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the World Bank, and other private institutions.

    The NDPC boss said the probe of Meta has reached a resolution point, stressing that the administration would not want the matter to be unnecessarily sensationalised.

    “We are concerned about the ways and manners in which data of citizens are collected and managed in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

    “In so doing, we also consider the economic values for the citizens and the country, and we want the global best standards and practices to be entrenched here, so our approach is to ensure 100 percent compliance with the law. We are not necessarily being punitive. However, any institution that fails to cooperate or comply with our laws would be sanctioned,” Dr Olatunji said.

    Dr Olatunji, who took participants through the training session with emphasis on the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, Data breaches in the United States and India, and the challenges of deployment of government digital services, among others, canvassed for trust, integrity, and responsibility in data management.

    He said, “The future of government is digital, but the success of digital governance will depend on one thing above all. Trust and privacy are the foundation of that trust.

    “Deploying trusted digital services is not a task for government alone; it requires all of us across public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and even the citizens working together to embed accountability, transparency, and responsibility into every digital service.

    “Together we can build a citizen-centric, innovative digital nation that others will look to as a model of trust and progress.”

    Amongst the resource persons who deliver lectures at the training were Mr Akeem Ajijola, a Cybersecurity expert, Dr Thuweba Diwani, head of projects at DTC/ GIZ, Mr Jide Ayodeji from Quadcore Technologies, and Barrister Babatunde Bamigboye, head of Regulations and Compliance, NDPC.

  • Bitget expands RWA futures to include Google, Amazon, Meta, others

    Bitget expands RWA futures to include Google, Amazon, Meta, others

    Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 innovator, has expanded its Real-World Asset (RWA) Index Perpetual Futures, giving users access to Apple (AAPL), Google/Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), and McDonald’s (MCD) perpetual contracts starting Tuesday.

    The move builds on the success of Bitget’s earlier RWA futures launch featuring Tesla, Nvidia, and Circle, further strengthening its suite of tokenized equities. All contracts are settled in USDT, with up to 10× leverage and isolated margin mode available.

    Trading pairs now include AAPL/USDT, GOOGL/USDT, AMZN/USDT, META/USDT, MCD/USDT, TSLA/USDT, NVDA/USDT, and CRCL/USDT.

    Bitget CEO, Gracy Chen, said the expansion democratizes access to global stocks by tokenizing equity indices of industry leaders and making them available on a crypto-native platform without traditional brokerage barriers.

    Read Also: Bitget brings tokenized stocks, RWAs to Nigerian traders

    Trading runs 24/5 with composite indices from multiple token issuers ensuring fair pricing and robust liquidity.

    “Enhanced Accessibility for Global Audiences: This suite supports traders from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond, unlocking Tier-1 tech and consumer stock opportunities with simple, on-chain derivatives.

    “Institutional-Risk Architecture: Bitget’s RWA futures feature rigorous risk controls—isolated margin, capped leverage, insured ADL, and dynamic index rebalancing—designed to deliver reliability at scale,” she explained.

  • Meta, Nigeria unveil Llama programme

    Meta, Nigeria unveil Llama programme

    Facebook’s parent company, Meta, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation  & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), have launched the Llama Impact Accelerator programme aimed at enabling the development of impactful AI solutions in Nigeria.

    The eight-month programme is designed to support early-stage startups leveraging open-source Llama models to address key national and regional challenges across four high-priority areas, including Agriculture, Security & Safety, Healthcare, and a wild card category encouraging bold, original applications of AI in any other sector with high impact potential.

    With a strong focus on open innovation, the program includes a six-week incubation phase, where selected teams will receive technical training and mentorship from AI experts and industry leaders, followed by six months of extended support, including access to additional technical resources and opportunities.

    Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, Sade Dada, said: “We’re excited to partner with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy to launch this AI Accelerator in Nigeria — a country with a robust innovation ecosystem. By making open-source AI more accessible and relevant to local challenges, we aim to enable the development of solutions that can drive national development and are impactful for communities.”

    Read Also: National Assembly mulls extension of 2024 budget capital vote

    Nigeria’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem and deep pool of AI talent make it an ideal launchpad for scalable, homegrown AI solutions. The Accelerator aims to enable local innovators with cutting-edge tools, infrastructure, and support to build responsibly with open-source LLMs like Meta’s Llama.

    Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy of Nigeria, Dr Bosun Tijani, said: “This partnership marks a major step forward in our mission to develop a thriving AI ecosystem in Nigeria.

    “We see AI as a key driver for national development, and this program by Meta will equip innovators with the right tools and guidance to tackle some of our most pressing issues.”

    This initiative is part of Meta’s broader commitment to democratizing access to responsible AI and supporting local innovation in Nigeria. By working closely with government partners, academia, and civil society, the Accelerator will help foster an inclusive and forward-looking AI community in Nigeria.

    Applications for the program are open until June 27, 2025. More details can be found at llamaimpactssa.splashthat.com.

  • Meta introduces teen accounts on Instagram to boost online safety  

    Meta introduces teen accounts on Instagram to boost online safety  

    In a move to strengthen online safety for teenagers, Meta has officially launched Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria. The initiative is part of the tech giant’s wider commitment to fostering safe, private, and positive online environments for young users across Africa.

    As Nigerian teens increasingly turn to Instagram to connect and express themselves, the launch introduces a suite of features designed to protect them from potentially harmful experiences. According to Meta, Teen Accounts were built to support families by giving teens privacy by default, and offering parents tools to supervise online behaviour effectively.

    “Teen Accounts are designed to give parents peace of mind, allowing teens to connect with friends and explore interests without worrying about unsafe experiences,” said Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager for Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET) at Meta.

    With built-in protections, all Nigerian teens will now be automatically placed in Teen Accounts. For those under 16, parental permission will be required to alter any settings that reduce safety protections. These protections include setting teen profiles to private by default, limiting incoming messages to only people they follow, filtering out sensitive content in search, Explore, Feed and Reels, and restricting who can tag or mention them. The anti-bullying feature Hidden Words is turned on by default, and teens receive time limit reminders after one hour of daily app use. A sleep mode is also active from 10 PM to 7 AM, muting notifications and activating auto-replies to direct messages.

    Read Also: Meta’s $220m fine and Nigeria’s digital sovereignty

    Meta began rolling out Teen Accounts globally in September 2024. Since then, over 54 million teens have been enrolled, with 97% of users aged 13–15 maintaining the default safety settings.

    The platform is also introducing enhanced parental supervision tools. While message content remains private, parents can view who their teen has messaged in the past seven days, set daily time limits for Instagram, block access to the app during specific hours like bedtime, and view the types of age-appropriate interests their teen engages with.

    The policy has been welcomed by Nigerian regulators. Barr. Emmanuel Edet, Director of the Regulations and Compliance Department at NITDA, noted that Meta’s new safety measures align with national priorities. 

    “NITDA has been a strong advocate for child online protection through various initiatives, including national strategies and proposed legislation, such as the Online Harms Protection Bill. This policy reinforces the need for age-appropriate online experiences and promotes digital well-being,” Edet said.

    To commemorate the launch, Meta hosted an exclusive event attended by teens, parents, policy makers, content creators, and media. The gathering provided a platform to explore the new safety tools and discuss their impact.

    Meta reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its suite of tools and collaborations to safeguard Nigeria’s digital youth.

  • Meta’s $220m fine and Nigeria’s digital sovereignty

    Meta’s $220m fine and Nigeria’s digital sovereignty

    • By Wale Bakare

    In July 2024, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) of Nigeria announced a monumental N352 billion ($220 million) fine against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The penalty stems from alleged data privacy violations and discriminatory treatment of Nigerian users—specifically, Meta’s failure to offer transparent, opt-out mechanisms for data collection and a lack of clarity on how Nigerians’ data is used compared to other jurisdictions. Meta’s response? A warning that it may withdraw Facebook and Instagram from the Nigerian market.

    While some may view Meta’s reaction as a corporate bluff, the implications of this fine and any potential withdrawal demand deeper examination. This is not just a legal or economic issue; it is a national conversation about digital sovereignty, user rights, and the responsibilities of global tech giants operating within Nigeria’s borders.

    The fine is one of the largest ever imposed by a Nigerian regulator on a foreign technology company, signalling a new era of enforcement. For too long, Nigerian users have been subject to opaque algorithms, unfair content moderation practices, and unconsented data harvesting by big tech firms, with little recourse. The FCCPC’s decision sends a clear message: Nigerian citizens deserve the same level of privacy protection, respect, and transparency that users in the European Union or the United States enjoy.

    The Nigerian government’s stance aligns with global trends. In recent years, regulators across the world, from Ireland to India, have been pushing back against Meta’s data practices. However, unlike the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Nigeria’s digital rights and data protection framework is still evolving, and enforcement has often lagged behind legislation. This fine, therefore, represents both a challenge and an opportunity to redefine the rules of engagement in our digital economy.

    Meta’s counter-response that it may withdraw Facebook and Instagram from Nigeria raises a critical question: Is this a genuine threat or a strategic negotiation tactic? With over 51 million Nigerians actively using WhatsApp, and millions more on Facebook and Instagram, it is difficult to imagine Meta abandoning such a sizable market.

    But this is not the first time Meta has made such threats. In 2021, it briefly blocked Australian news content over a proposed media bargaining code. It also threatened to suspend operations in Europe over data transfer disputes. These incidents follow a familiar script: regulators assert control, Meta resists with aggressive messaging, and the world watches to see who blinks first.

    Read Also: Lagos upscales healthcare digitisation with EMR Rollout

    In Nigeria’s case, the potential fallout is complex. A Meta pullout could destabilise digital businesses that rely on these platforms for customer outreach, marketing, and sales. Thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), influencers, and content creators could be affected overnight. But it could also catalyse local innovation and force a long-overdue reckoning about our overdependence on foreign tech infrastructure.

    At the heart of this dispute is a larger conversation about digital colonialism, the idea that tech giants exploit the data and digital labour of users in the Global South without providing equitable returns, protections, or governance. For many Nigerians, Facebook and Instagram are not just social networks—they are critical economic tools. Meta’s data monetisation practices turn user behaviour into profit, yet users are often left in the dark about how their data is used, sold, or weaponised. By fining Meta, the FCCPC is asserting that Nigeria is no longer content to be treated as a digital periphery. If European users enjoy certain rights—such as data portability, consent mechanisms, and algorithmic transparency, why should Nigerian users settle for less? The fine symbolises a demand for parity and dignity in the global digital economy.

    The short-term risks are real. If Meta follows through on its threat, there could be economic and social disruptions. Businesses that depend on Facebook Ads for visibility may lose access to their customer base. Civil society organisations and advocacy groups that use Instagram to reach youth audiences may be forced to migrate to other platforms. For the average user, it may mean losing a community, a marketplace, or even a livelihood. However, this situation could also ignite a broader movement toward digital resilience. Already, Nigerian developers are building homegrown alternatives, and regional platforms like Ayoba, Nairaland, and Creatlie and others are showing promise. With the right investment and regulatory support, Nigeria can turn this crisis into a springboard for digital independence.

    The Meta fine must not be the end of the conversation; it should be the beginning. What Nigeria needs is a comprehensive Digital Bill of Rights that guarantees data protection, platform accountability, freedom from algorithmic discrimination, and recourse mechanisms for users. Enforcement agencies like the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) must be empowered, well-funded, and free from political interference. We must also build civic awareness. Too many Nigerians still do not know what happens to their data online, or what rights they possess under existing laws. Public campaigns, digital literacy programmes, and multi-stakeholder dialogues will be essential in closing this gap.

    Nigeria is not alone in this battle. Across Africa, governments are grappling with the power imbalance between sovereign states and multinational tech companies. Kenya’s proposed data protection regulations, South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), and Ghana’s recent investigations into social media abuse, all reflect a regional awakening. Nigeria can lead this charge not just by fining corporations, but by proposing models of digital governance that balance innovation with rights.

    Meta’s $220 million fine is not just about punishing a tech giant; it is about reclaiming agency in a digital world where Nigerian voices have often been marginalised. The choice before us is not whether to keep or lose Facebook and Instagram; it is whether we will shape the digital future on our own terms or continue being passive consumers of technologies built elsewhere, for someone else’s benefit.

    Now is the time for bold leadership. Nigeria must stand firm, invest in local alternatives, and demand that tech giants respect our laws, our people, and our data. Because Nigeria is not a digital dumping ground. It is a sovereign nation with rights, dignity, and a future worth protecting.

    •Wale Bakare

    wale@webfalainitiative.org

  • Quitting Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities, says FCCPC

    Quitting Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities, says FCCPC

    The Federal Competitive and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that WhatsApp’s claim of being forced to exit Nigeria due to the commission’s recent fine appears to be a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.

    In a statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC had 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 included denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.

    ‘Interestingly, Meta had been fined for similar breaches in Texas ($1.5b) and only recently was asked to pay $1.3 Billion for violating E.U. Data Privacy Rules. Elsewhere in India, South Korea, France and Australia, Meta had faced varying penalties for similar breaches. But Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries. They obeyed”. 

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    Ijagwu added the recent affirmation of FCCPC’s final order by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, “stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change your practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights, consistent with international best practices”. Threatening to leave Nigeria does not absolve Meta of liabilities for the outcome of a judicial process. 

    The commission assured that it remains committed in its pursuit of consumer protection and data privacy towards ensuring a fairer digital market in Nigeria.