Federal court defends Facebook against ₦60 billion fine

·
December 17, 2024
·
4 min read

Below is a delayed version of our flagship newsletter, Techpoint Digest

Every weekday, 30,000 subscribers get a fun 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, directly in their inbox, hours before everyone else.

Hola,

Delight here,

Here’s what I have for you today:

  • Federal High Court defends Facebook against ARCON ₦60 million fine
  • Terrahaptix sets its sights on South African mining industry 
  • Morocco’s Z raises $1.5 million to up FMCG sector

Federal court defends Facebook against ₦60 billion fine

15 million Nigerians use Facebook

A Federal High Court in Lagos has temporarily stopped the Nigerian government from enforcing a ₦60 billion fine against Meta’s Facebook.

Justice Yellim Bogoro gave the ruling after Facebook’s lawyers filed an application challenging the fine imposed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in October 2024.

Here’s what went down: ARCON accused Facebook of running unauthorised ads in Nigeria, claiming the ads didn’t go through its Advertising Standards Panel for vetting. They also said the ads violated cultural and moral values. Based on this, ARCON slammed Meta with a ₦60 billion fine and other penalties.

Meta wasn’t having it. They filed a suit arguing that the fine was excessive and unconstitutional. They also challenged ARCON’s authority to impose such fines, saying Facebook operates within global advertising standards.

Justice Bogoro ruled in Meta’s favour for now, stopping ARCON from enforcing the fine or taking further action against Facebook until the case is decided.

The next hearing is set for February 2025, where both sides will lay out their arguments in detail. Stay tuned!

Let the best of tech news come to you
Join 30,000 subscribers who receive Techpoint Digest, a fun week-daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, directly in your inbox, hours before everyone else.
Digest Subscription

Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.


Terrahaptix sets its sights on South Africa’s mining industry

Terrahaptix Duma ground drone
Duma ground drone by Terrahaptix

Remember back in November 2024, we talked about Nathan Nwachukwu and Maxwell Maduka, the brilliant minds behind Terrahaptix, a Nigerian drone startup?

Well, here’s the latest: Terrahaptix is about to start supplying its drone tech to the South African mining industry through a partnership with DiggingDeep.

READ MORE   Vodacom Tanzania acquires Smile Tanzania

Big news, right? But there’s more! The startup just hit $2 million in revenue—after only one year in business. Crazy impressive!

South Africa is a prime spot for drone tech, with tons of potential across industries. This deal will focus on high-resolution mapping and monitoring for mining operations, improving safety and efficiency.

Globally, the mining industry is all-in on drones—65% of miners are using them already. The market is now worth a massive $31.4 billion.

With this expansion, South Africa becomes the fifth country Terrahaptix is entering, joining Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and, of course, Nigeria.

Want to know how this Nigerian drone startup is taking over the African market? Dive into their story here!


Morocco’s Z raises $1.5 million to up FMCG sector

Z Morocco

Moroccan B2B retail-tech startup, Z, just scored $1.5 million in seed funding to shake up the country’s FMCG supply chain.

The round was led by MNF Ventures (through its MNF II Fund) along with Witamax, Cash Plus Ventures, and Kalys Ventures jumping on board.

Founded in 2022 by Meriem Benabad, Samer Choumar, and Youssef Ait-Haddouch, Z runs a digital platform that connects manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The goal? To make FMCG operations smoother and more accessible to consumers.

With 85% of Morocco’s FMCG sector driven by retail trade, Z isn’t just aiming for a piece of the pie—it’s looking to transform the entire ecosystem. Think a more connected, efficient, and inclusive supply chain.

So far, Z has served over 15,000 retailers and processed more than 800,000 orders. Impressive, right? Their secret? A mix of digital tools that tackle inefficiencies in how goods are produced, distributed, and delivered to customers, making life easier for businesses and end-users alike.

READ MORE   MTN SA to contest Vodacom's lawsuit over spectrum pooling

This fresh $1.5 million will be pumped into tech upgrades, market expansion, and future partnerships. Of course, it’s all pending a green light from Morocco’s Competition Council. Stay tuned!

In case you missed them

What I'm watching and reading

Opportunities 

  • Compete for a $1M prize at the Startup World Cup Semi-Finals in Sierra Leone, and connect with global investors. Apply here before December 20, 2024. Apply here.
  • Condia is looking for Sales and Partnership Associate. Apply here.
  • Looking for jobs on X? Apply here.
  • Flutterwave is currently looking to fill several vacancies. Apply here.
  • Moniepoint is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
  • Learn about Sleeping Sickness and other NTDs! Dial 421 on your Airtel line now — you won't be charged. You get 10 CALLS every month at zero charge. Afterwards, each call costs ₦10 regardless of duration. Alternatively, call 07080601391 at your network's regular rate.
  • Follow Techpoint Africa's WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Sunny Delight for Techpoint Africa.

Other Stories

43b, Emina Cres, Allen, Ikeja.

 Techpremier Media Limited. All rights reserved
magnifier