The Federal Government has said its investigation into the operations of tech giant Meta Platforms Inc. is aimed at ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws and not necessarily to punish the company.
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Meta, a U.S.-based firm, owns social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday during a training for DevsInGovernment themed “Innovating with Privacy: Building Trust in Government Digital Services”, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said the probe required a multi-agency approach to guarantee a thorough review.
“We are concerned about the ways and manners in which data of citizens are collected and managed in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. In so doing, we also consider the economic values for the citizens and the country, and we want the global best standards and practices to be entrenched here,” Olatunji said.
He recalled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) recently imposed a $220 million fine on Meta for data breaches, stressing that sanctions would remain a last resort.
“We are not necessarily being punitive. However, any institution that fails to cooperate or comply with our laws will be sanctioned,” he warned.
The NDPC boss explained that the training was part of government’s efforts to equip workers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with digital knowledge and skills to safeguard citizens’ data.
According to him, the success of Nigeria’s digital governance drive rests heavily on public trust.
“The future of government is digital, but the success of digital governance will depend on one thing above all: trust, and privacy is the foundation of that trust.
“Deploying trusted digital services is not a task for government alone; it requires all of us across public and private sectors, civil society and citizens working together. Together we can build a citizen-centric, innovative digital nation that others will look to as a model of trust and progress,” Olatunji added.
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