The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has sued Meta, accusing the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp of publishing unauthorized ads and seeking a 30 billion naira ($70 million) fine.
Also, the Nigerian government said Meta displaying unvetted ads has cost the country a loss of revenue, without providing details.
This was disclosed in a statement published by the Nigerian regulator and made available to newsmen.
But the lawsuit filed in a local court is the regulator’s latest action that analysts say could hurt businesses highly dependent on digital ads for their growth.
Nigerian advertising laws require the regulator to approve ads based on certain criteria with the involvement of an advertising practitioner in Africa’s largest economy.
The Agency said, “Before you put out anything, it should be vetted and approved by ARCON first before exposure. Anything that has not been vetted and approved by ARCON is a violation of our law.”
The regulator published some details from the court filings in the statement, including a request for a declaration “that the continued publication and exposure of various advertisements directed at the Nigerian market through Facebook and Instagram platforms by Meta Platforms Incorporated without ensuring same is vetted and approved before exposure is illegal, unlawful and a violation of the extant advertising Law in Nigeria.”
