Russia’s WhatsApp block raises brows for Nigeria’s digital sovereignty

Russia’s decision to block Meta-owned WhatsApp has sparked concerns over digital sovereignty, platform regulation, and cybersecurity for Nigerian citizens.

WhatsApp is Nigeria’s most widely used communication platform, with over 3 billion monthly active users as of 2025 and 2026, serving as a backbone for personal communication, business transactions, media distribution, political mobilisation, and customer service across the country.

Russia’s move underscores how deeply government policy decisions can reshape digital ecosystems, a reality that can serve as a roadmap for Nigeria as it advances its own digital sovereignty agenda.

Russian courts have repeatedly fined WhatsApp for failing to delete banned content, and the authorities have insisted that the company needs a local representative office in Russia to be compliant, something it does not have.

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Since December, many Russians have been able to use WhatsApp only in conjunction with a virtual private network and have switched to using rival messenger apps.

“Due to Meta’s unwillingness to comply with Russian law, such a decision was indeed made and implemented,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at NBC News.

WhatsApp said on Wednesday that Russia attempted to fully block the messaging app in the country to push users to a competing state-controlled service, potentially affecting 100 million people.

“Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app,” WhatsApp posted on X. “Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.”

WhatsApp’s popularity in Nigeria

WhatsApp Business is used by micro-retailers running storefronts and also by fintech firms offering real-time customer support. WhatsApp plays a central role in Nigeria’s digital economy.

As of Q3 2024, WhatsApp was identified as the most popular social media platform in Nigeria, used by over 95 percent of internet users aged 16 and older.

The Russian ban highlights the growing global push for digital sovereignty, which is the idea that nations should control data flows, infrastructure, and online content within their borders.

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Nigeria has already taken steps in this direction through the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), National Cloud Computing Policy, Ongoing efforts to localise government data hosting, and Social media regulation and broadcasting reforms.

For Nigerian exporters, freelancers, and tech startups that engage clients across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, WhatsApp restrictions in Russia could disrupt communication flows, sales pipelines, and customer service.

Several Nigerian fintech and logistics firms that use WhatsApp extensively for B2B communication with Russian partners, particularly in commodity trading, freight forwarding, and IT outsourcing, will also be affected.

Nigeria remains committed to an open and competitive digital ecosystem, and the country may face increasing pressure to tighten oversight of foreign tech platforms.