Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is ramping up enforcement against major companies, investigating GTBank, MTN, and Air Peace for alleged violations of consumer rights. This comes amid a high-profile dispute with Meta Platforms over a $290 million fine affirmed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal.
In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, the FCCPC criticized Meta’s recent threat to exit Nigeria, describing it as a tactic meant to stir public sympathy and pressure the Commission into backing down. The Commission reiterated that Meta was found guilty of repeatedly violating Nigeria’s consumer protection and data privacy laws, including denying users control over their data and applying unfair policies compared to other countries.
According to the FCCPC, Meta transferred Nigerian users’ data without consent and imposed discriminatory privacy practices, leveraging its market dominance to the detriment of Nigerian consumers. The Commission insisted these actions breach both the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act and the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation.
While Meta has previously faced similar penalties globally—including fines of $1.5 billion in Texas and $1.3 billion in the EU—the FCCPC noted that the company complied with rulings elsewhere without resorting to threats. It asserted that Meta must comply with the tribunal’s order to align with Nigerian legal standards and international consumer rights practices.
The Commission reaffirmed its dedication to protecting Nigerian consumers, urging Meta to change its operations in Nigeria rather than resort to ultimatums. It stressed that Meta’s legal obligations will remain regardless of its presence in the country.
This firm stance comes at a time when the FCCPC is also intensifying scrutiny of other major corporations such as GTBank, MTN, and Air Peace, signaling broader enforcement of Nigeria’s. consumer protection framework.
