By Queen Madaki
Nigeria has quietly withdrawn a $32.8 million penalty earlier imposed on Meta Platforms Inc., sparking fresh concerns over transparency and consistency in the country’s data protection enforcement framework.
The fine, originally issued in February 2025 by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), followed allegations of violations under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, according to The Business Bureau.
NDPC Accused Meta of Multiple Data Breaches
The penalty stemmed from an investigation launched in September 2023, which examined Meta’s handling of personal data belonging to more than 60 million Nigerian users.
Regulators accused the tech giant of several infractions, including failure to obtain explicit consent for behavioural advertising, unauthorised cross-border data transfers, and the collection of personal data from non-users.
The NDPC also raised concerns over algorithmic systems that could potentially expose users to financial and health-related risks.
At the time, the commission described the fine as part of efforts to strengthen digital rights protections in Nigeria and align with global enforcement trends seen in jurisdictions such as the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.
Settlement Reverses Earlier Enforcement Action
However, newly disclosed documents reveal that the Nigerian government reversed its position in October 2025 following a settlement agreement with Meta.
Under the terms of the deal, Meta was absolved of the $32.8 million fine and instead required only to cover legal costs incurred by the government during court proceedings challenging the NDPC’s final orders.
The agreement was signed on October 30, 2025, and subsequently validated by
