Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms Inc. have reached an agreement to resolve a major $32.8 million data privacy dispute outside of court, halting further litigation in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The conflict stems from Final Orders issued by the NDPC on February 18, 2025, which included both the $32.8 million remedial fee and eight corrective directives alleging violations in Meta’s handling of Nigerian user data—particularly in behavioral advertising, data transfers abroad, and processing information of non-users. Meta challenged the orders via judicial review, arguing lack of due process, but rather than awaiting a court ruling, both sides have opted for negotiation.
At a brief hearing before Justice James Omotosho, counsel for both Meta and NDPC informed the court that terms of settlement had already been exchanged. The judge, noting the court’s preference for amicable resolution, postponed his intended judgment and adjourned the matter until October 31 for either a final ruling or the judicial adoption of the settlement terms.
For Meta, the settlement reduces the immediate financial and reputational risks tied to prolonged litigation. For NDPC, it signals a willingness to enforce compliance while preserving room for collaboration with global tech firms. Still, the agreement’s real impact will depend on whether the settlement includes enforceable corrective measures and how transparently its terms are executed.
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