Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is set to introduce charges for certain business messages sent to Nigerian numbers from October 1, 2026.
The new fees will apply to businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform, formerly known as the WhatsApp Business API, which allows companies such as banks, fintechs, telecom operators, e-commerce platforms and large retailers to manage customer communications at scale.
Under the new pricing structure, service messages will cost about $0.0101, or approximately 14 naira per delivered message to Nigerian numbers, while marketing messages will attract about $0.062, equivalent to roughly 84 naira. The charges are Meta’s platform fees, meaning businesses using third-party solution providers may incur additional costs.
Meta has directed businesses and solution providers to have valid payment methods on file before the charges take effect, warning that service messages could stop being delivered from October 1 where payment details are unavailable.
The new regime will not affect ordinary Nigerians using the standard WhatsApp application for personal conversations. Most small businesses using the standard WhatsApp Business app on their phones are also outside the scope of the Business Platform charges.
Meta has also introduced other monetisation features on WhatsApp, including advertisements in the Updates tab, promoted channels and paid channel subscriptions. The company said personal chats, calls and groups would remain separate from these features, with personal messages and calls continuing to use end-to-end encryption.
Meta also offers WhatsApp Plus, an optional subscription reportedly costing $2.99 per month and providing additional personalisation features, although availability and benefits may vary by region and account.
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