Nigerian Businesses to Face WhatsApp Message Charges

Meta announced that starting October 1, 2026, Nigerian businesses utilizing the WhatsApp Business Platform will be charged on a per-message basis for service messages sent during a 24-hour customer service window. This pricing adjustment will impact businesses that depend on WhatsApp for customer support and transactional communications, including banks, fintech companies, e-commerce platforms, telecommunications operators, logistics companies, and large retailers.

The current system allows businesses to respond to customer messages without charge within a 24-hour window, but this will change with the new pricing structure. Additionally, utility messages, which include payment confirmations and order updates, will also incur charges from the same date.

Businesses must ensure they have a valid payment method registered by September 30, 2026, to avoid service disruptions. The changes do not apply to ordinary WhatsApp users or most small businesses using the standard WhatsApp Business app.