The Federal Government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has stated that WhatsApp’s threat to leave Nigeria following the Commission’s recent directive will not absolve the company from the consequences of ongoing judicial proceedings. In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission emphasized that Meta and its subsidiaries must comply with Nigerian laws. Ijagwu described WhatsApp’s threat as a strategic attempt to provoke negative public sentiment and pressure the FCCPC into reversing its stance. He noted that the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal had upheld the FCCPC’s final order, which mandates that Meta entities cease exploitative practices targeting Nigerian users and align their operations with both local laws and global best practices. It will be recalled that the Tribunal imposed a $220 million administrative penalty on Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC for regulatory violations. Meta had earlier threatened to withdraw Facebook and Instagram services from Nigeria in response to hefty fines levied by various government agencies. The Tribunal also awarded $35,000 to the FCCPC to cover investigation costs. ”The FCCPC 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 include denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation. ”Others are discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies,” he said. Ijagwu noted that Meta had previously faced similar sanctions, including a $1.5 billion fine in Texas and a recent $1.3 billion penalty for violating the European Union’s data privacy regulations. He further highlighted that Meta had been penalized for comparable offenses in countries such as India, South Korea, France, and Australia. According to him, in none of those instances did Meta resort to threats of exiting the market; instead, the company complied with the respective legal requirements. Ijagwu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and data privacy, emphasizing its resolve to promote a more equitable digital marketplace in Nigeria.