Beyond Business: Assessing Governmental Responses to Corporate Data Misuse - A Case Study of the Nigerian Government vs Meta Platforms Inc

Abstract

This study evaluates Nigeria’s recent enforcement actions against Meta Platforms Inc. (2024 2025) as a test case for data-protection implementation and digital-sovereignty claims. Using a qualitative case-study method (regulatory notices, tribunal materials, and contemporaneous press), we examine the statutory bases invoked, the procedural posture, and the institutional constraints shaping outcomes. We identify divergence in Meta’s forum-specific compliance posture and draw implications for Nigeria’s enforcement design (mandates, penalties, due process safeguards). We conclude with actionable recommendations on mandate clarity, penalty calibration, and cross-border coordination to increase enforceability and reduce regulatory arbitrage