The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta, is downsizing its office space in Lagos following significant global layoffs in mid-2023 that impacted its Nigerian team.
TechCabal reported that at least 35 employees were affected, including the entire engineering team, which had 24 members according to a 2022 report.
A Meta spokesperson started that engineers will continue to support the region from global hubs outside Nigeria but declined to specify the exact number of Nigerian employees affected by the layoffs, which saw a global reduction of 20,000 staff.
The reduction in team size has led Meta to renegotiate its tenancy agreement for its office in the 15-story Kings Tower building in Ikoyi, Lagos. The renegotiation aims to reduce the office space, which reportedly has an asking price of $800 per square meter per annum.
Meta opened its Lagos office in 2022. The company stated, “We regularly review our office spaces to ensure they suit the needs of the business, and the office in Nigeria is no different. As we shrink our real estate footprint, we’re transitioning to desk sharing for people who already spend most of their time outside the office.”
While Meta denies that this decision signifies a retreat, it marks a notable shift for a company that has consistently emphasized its commitment to Nigeria. In March 2024, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, visited Nigeria and announced plans to offer monetization options to creators in Q3 2024, highlighting the global recognition of Nigerian creators and their use of Meta platforms to build communities. According to Statista, Nigeria has an estimated 43 million Facebook users.
Despite this user base, it is unclear if these numbers have translated into significant revenue growth, as Meta reports Africa’s revenue under its “Rest of World” category.
Meta is not the only major tech company making operational changes in Nigeria. In May 2024, Microsoft closed its African Development Centre and cut at least 100 engineering jobs.
Although Microsoft maintains it is still operational in Nigeria, it chose Kenya for a multi-billion dollar investment in data centers.
Meta’s move to reduce its Lagos office space reflects a broader trend among tech giants adjusting their operations and presence in Nigeria amidst global restructuring efforts.
