Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is set to introduce new per-message charges for businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform in Nigeria from October 1, 2026.

The new policy will affect certain service and utility messages, including customer support replies, payment confirmations, order updates and delivery notifications. Reports indicate that a chargeable message to a Nigerian number could cost about $0.0101, or roughly ₦14 per message.

However, ordinary WhatsApp users and most small businesses using the standard WhatsApp Business app will not be directly affected. The charges are primarily targeted at companies using the official WhatsApp Business Platform to handle large volumes of customer communication.

Banks, fintechs, e-commerce companies, telecom operators and logistics firms that rely heavily on WhatsApp could therefore face higher communication and operating costs from October.