The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have reached a settlement over a $32.8 million fine and compliance orders for alleged data‑privacy violations involving Nigerian users. The development was disclosed to Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja by the legal teams of both parties, who had previously appeared in court for a ruling on the NDPC’s preliminary objection to Meta’s suit.
The NDPC had filed a preliminary objection, arguing that Meta’s suit was incompetent and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. The Commission also claimed that Meta failed to comply with the rules governing judicial review under the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019. Meta’s lawyer, Fred Onwuobia, SAN, urged the court to defer a ruling because the parties had reached an advanced stage of settlement. He noted that draft settlement terms had been exchanged and requested an adjournment to report the settlement. NDPC counsel Adeola Adedipe, SAN, confirmed that settlement discussions had progressed substantially and also asked for an adjournment to allow finalisation of the terms.
Justice Omotosho, emphasizing the court’s encouragement of settlement, adjourned the case to 31 October 2025 for either a ruling or the adoption of the settlement terms. The dispute originated in February when the NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million and imposed eight corrective orders for alleged breaches of the Nigeria Data Protection Act. The Commission’s action followed a petition from the civil‑society group Personal Data Protection Awareness Initiative (PDPAI), which alleged that Meta engaged in behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram without obtaining express consent from Nigerian users. Meta contested the findings, claiming it was denied a fair hearing and due process.
The settlement marks a significant development in a case that has raised concerns about data privacy and protection in Nigeria. The outcome is expected to influence the regulation of social‑media platforms in the country. With the adjournment, the parties have time to finalise the settlement terms, which will be presented to the court for adoption as a consent judgment, underscoring the importance of data‑protection compliance for social‑media companies.
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