Meta is set to introduce a N14 charge for every business message sent to Nigerian WhatsApp users from October 1, 2026, in a move expected to increase the cost of customer engagement and marketing on the platform.

The new fee will apply to businesses using WhatsApp to communicate with customers, while ordinary users will continue to use the messaging platform without being charged per message.

The affected businesses include banks, fintech companies, telecommunications firms, retailers and e-commerce platforms that rely on WhatsApp for customer support, transaction notifications, order confirmations and product promotions.

Under the new arrangement, businesses using Nigerian numbers will pay Meta approximately N14 for each business message delivered through WhatsApp.

The development is expected to add to the operating expenses of companies that handle large volumes of customer communication through the platform, particularly businesses that use WhatsApp extensively for alerts and promotional campaigns.

Meta, which owns WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, has increasingly expanded its business-focused services as it seeks to generate more revenue from WhatsApp.

Unlike individual users, businesses use dedicated WhatsApp tools to interact with customers at scale, making the new per-message fee applicable to a wide range of commercial communications.

The charge will provide Meta with an additional revenue stream beyond its traditional advertising business. The company has historically generated the bulk of its revenue from digital advertising across its social media platforms.

Through its advertising model, businesses pay to reach targeted audiences based on factors such as demographics, interests and online behaviour.

Meta has said maintaining and operating WhatsApp requires significant investment, including expenditure on infrastructure and other resources needed to support the platform.

The new business messaging charge is therefore expected to further monetise WhatsApp’s large user base while shifting part of the cost of commercial communication to businesses using the service.