How Nigeria’s Data Watchdog Controversially Waived $32.8 Million Sanctions Against Meta, Raising Questions on Regulatory Independence, Transparency, and Data Protection Compliance

Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission (NDPC) settled with Meta Platforms, effectively nullifying $32.8 million in sanctions previously imposed for widespread data protection violations affecting over 60 million Nigerians. The settlement, adopted as a consent judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, allows Meta to implement remedial measures without paying the full penalty, sparking debate over regulatory independence, transparency, and public interest. The case originated from allegations of unauthorized data collection, behavioral advertising, and cross-border data transfers.