A regulatory case involving Meta has taken a turn in Nigeria, after the government reversed a previously imposed $32.8 million fine against the tech company.
The fine was originally imposed after alleged violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
At the time, the NDPC stated that Meta was being investigated over how it handled data belonging to more than 60 million Nigerian users.
The regulator had accused the company of multiple breaches. These included lack of proper user consent for targeted advertising, unauthorized transfer of data outside Nigeria, and collection of information from non-users.
The NDPC had described the sanction as part of efforts to strengthen digital rights protections. It also aligned Nigeria with global enforcement trends in regions such as the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.
However, new documents show that the government later reversed its position in October 2025. Under the settlement, Meta was no longer required to pay the $32.8 million fine. Instead, the company only covered legal costs related to court proceedings.
The agreement was signed on 30 October 2025 and later confirmed by the Federal High Court in Abuja on 3 November 2025.
“The settlement was signed on 30 October 2025 and later validated by the Federal High Court in Abuja on 3 November 2025.”
Data protection lawyer Iliya-Ezekiel Ndatse criticised the outcome. He stated: “Removing penalties after such findings reduces the effectiveness of enforcement actions and weakens the credibility of compliance obligations.”
Furthermore, the case has drawn comparisons with Nigeria’s past dispute with Twitter, now known as X.
However, the NDPC has not publicly explained why the fine was waived. Meta has also remained silent beyond confirming the settlement.
