"Nigerians hailed the country’s $32.8 million data settlement with Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as a landmark moment that marks the first time an African nation has compelled a global tech giant to comply with its data protection laws. The fine was imposed by Nigeria's Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in February 2025 for alleged violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act. "The data controllers domiciled outside the country are also being held accountable in Nigeria," NDPC Legal Enforcement Head Babatunde Bamigboye said on Monday in Lagos. The country's parliament passed the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, which provided a legal framework for the protection of personal data and established the NDPC as the regulatory body to oversee its implementation. "Now there is a law in Nigeria, and there is an independent data protection authority. If there is any breach or any unauthorised use of any personal data in Nigeria, they are after them," NDPC National Commissioner Dr Vincent Olatunji warned. Olatunji said tech companies have been asked to revise and assess their data privacy and protection policies, noting, "We are holding all of them accountable now." Residents voiced concerns over social media platforms collecting their personal data. They said targeted advertising felt intrusive, raising questions about user privacy. "When I was chatting with a friend, and I think that was via messenger on Facebook, and I was telling him about getting a new dining set. And after our discussion, I just saw this thing that popped up about dining sets on my timeline. And I was like, shocked,” said a civil servant. Meta was accused of using Nigerian users' data for behavioural advertising without explicit consent, processing personal data of non-users, failing to file mandatory compliance audits, and transferring user data abroad without authorisation. The settlement is expected to be finalised later this month. According to local media reports, Meta had initially challenged the fine but has now agreed to an out-of-court settlement."