Meta and Nigeria Near $32.8M Data Privacy Settlement

Meta Platforms Inc. is edging toward resolving a long-running dispute with Nigerian authorities over alleged misuse of user data. According to recent filings in a federal court in Abuja, Meta and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have exchanged draft settlement terms. They’re working toward a deal of about $32.8 million, expected to be finalized by October 31, 2025.

The case dates back to February, when the NDPC levied the remedial fee and issued eight corrective orders against Meta. Regulators allege Meta used personal data belonging to Nigerians for behavioural advertising without obtaining proper consent, transferred data out of the country without appropriate authorization, and failed to undertake required impact assessments. Meta initially pushed back, challenging the ruling in court, but in recent weeks the two sides have moved toward negotiation.

At a recent court session, both parties asked the judge to adjourn to give them time to finalise terms. What makes this moment potentially monumental is that the outcome won’t just be about the money; it could shape how tech companies do business in Africa. If the settlement includes binding corrective measures or new compliance obligations, Meta and others may need to overhaul how they manage user consent, cross-border data transfers, and privacy disclosures in Nigeria, and possibly more broadly across the continent.

Beyond the immediate implications for Meta, the deal reflects Nigeria’s growing confidence in enforcing its digital regulations. Earlier this year, a tribunal upheld a separate $220 million fine against Meta, underscoring that oversight bodies are prepared to assert themselves. Civil society and smaller firms are watching closely, since the regulations and penalties set in this case may become a template for how governments negotiate with global platforms moving forward.

A finalized agreement might spare Meta the costs and uncertainties of protracted litigation, but it could also commit the company to substantial operational changes. What remains to be seen is whether the NDPC will make the corrective orders public, how monitoring will be enforced, and how this case influences regulators elsewhere in Africa.