Meta has warned that it may shut down Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria in response to ongoing legislative scrutiny and unpaid fines issued by local authorities.

Last year, three Nigerian oversight agencies fined the US-based social media giant totalling more than $290m (£218m) for violating a number of laws and regulations. In court filings, the company stated that ongoing operations in the country could result in enforcement risks, according to BBC.

A federal high court in Abuja recently dismissed Meta's challenge to the sanctions, giving the company till the end of June to comply.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, was not mentioned. A shutdown might disrupt communication for millions of people and harm small businesses that rely on these sites, BBC reported.

Meta has not disclosed its further plans.