Nigerian Government Drags Facebook To Court, Seeks N30billion Damages For Breaching Advert Regulations

The Nigerian government, through the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, has sued Meta Platforms Incorporated (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms) and its agent AT3 Resources Limited at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division to demand N30billion for alleged breach of advertisement regulations.

The top regulatory body for Nigeria’s advertising ecosystem said in a statement on Tuesday that ARCON is seeking a declaration, among other things, that Meta Platforms Incorporated’s continued publication and exposure of various advertisements targeted at the Nigerian market through Facebook and Instagram platforms without making sure they are vetted and approved before exposure was illegal, unlawful, and a violation of the country’s current advertising laws.

According to ARCON, Meta Platforms Incorporated’s ongoing broadcast of unscreened advertisements has cost the Federal Government some revenue.
The agency is seeking N30billion in sanction for the violation of the advertising laws and for loss of revenue as a result of Meta Incorporated’s continued exposure of unapproved adverts on its platforms.

“ARCON reiterates that it would not permit unethical and irresponsible advertising on Nigeria’s advertising space,” the group said in a statement.

The statement added that the council was not regulating the online media space but its focus was on advertising and marketing communications on the online platforms in line with its establishment Act.