Nigeria must act now on top AI regulation as Lasu Professor warns for bias, harmful systems!

Report by musa antiketu,| tori people for obaland magazine.

A professor for Lagos state university (lasu) don dem dey call for di Nigerian Goment to bad-bad Establish a comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence (AI), warning say di kontri risks exposing kontri pipo to biased, unsafe and potentially harmful AI systems if regulation does no bi keep pace wit technological adoption.

di academic’s warning comes amid growing use for Artificial Intelligence across Nigeria’s Education, Banking, Healthcare, Security, Agriculture, Media and Public-Service Sectors. While AI presents significant opportunities for Economic Growth and Innovation, concerns ova privacy, algorithmic bias, misinformation, accountability and automated decision-making are increasingly becoming central go di global technology debate.

di Lasu Professor na wey dey support di enactment for a kontri Artificial Intelligence act dat would establish clear rules for di development, deployment come use for ai systems for nigeria.

Nigeria don already taken steps toward responsible ai development through na kontri artificial intelligence strategy, which identifies governance, transparency, accountability, inclusion and responsible innovation as important components for di country’s ai ambitions. Di strategy also recognises di need for stronger governance mechanisms as ai becomes increasingly integrated into society.

however, Nigeria currently does no bi get single, dedicated law equivalent go di European union’s ai act dat comprehensively regulates Artificial Intelligence. Existing safeguards are spread across legislation and regulatory frameworks dealing wit data protection, cybersecurity, digital technology and specific sectors.

why AI regulation matters

di concern surrounding AI regulation extends beyond technological innovation. AI systems fit influence decisions involving employment, financial services, healthcare, education, policing and check to public services.

wia algorithms are trained on top incomplete or unrepresentative datasets, dem fit reproduce or amplify existing inequalities. For Nigeria, sabi pipo don na im be say taya di importance for ensuring dat ai systems reflect di country’s diverse demographic, linguistic and socioeconomic realities.

a recent analysis published by di guardian argued dat Nigeria suppose avoid simply importing foreign ai regulatory models and instead develop rules dat take account for di kontri’s unique social and technological environment. It highlighted risk assessment, bias mitigation, transparency, auditing and mechanisms for kontri pipo to challenge harmful ai decisions as important components for an effective Nigerian framework.

similarly, premium times report for april 2026 dat sabi pipo for an ai governance forum warned dat nigeria still lacked binding AI-specific legislation despite di technology’s rapid expansion across sectors. Participants raised concerns de include yahoo yahoo, disinformation, data poisoning and automated cybercrime.

Legislative efforts already underway

di call for an ai act na no bi entirely para para. Nigeria’s kontri assembly don considered several proposals aimed for creating formal governance structures for artificial intelligence.

according go di international association for privacy professionals (iapp), various ai-related bills de introduced between 2021 and 2024, de include proposals dealing wit Artificial Intelligence and robotics, ai technology usage and di establishment for an ai regulatory authority. Several for dos proposals de subsequently consolidated as lawmakers considered a broader approach to ai governance.

plenti recent proposals don also sought to establish a dedicated kontri ai commission. Policy analysts don argued dat a statutory institution fit provide clearer oversight, establish risk classifications for high-impact ai systems and coordinate enforcement across sectors.

a 2026 policy brief by di tunani initiative similarly recommended dat nigeria enact a kontri ai act, drag dat existing law and regulatory instruments no provide sufficient coverage for ai governance for scale. Among na recommendations are stronger oversight for high-risk ai systems, greater algorithmic transparency and di establishment for an independent ai governance bodi.

regulation suppose no bi undermine innovation

for Nigeria, di challenge na finding di right balance between regulation and innovation.

an effective ai law suppose no bi unnecessarily discourage technology compin, sabi pipo, universities and start-ups from developing locally relevant solutions. Instead, regulation suppose create predictable rules dat encourage responsible innovation while protecting kontri pipo from unacceptable risks.

a risk-based approach fit gree low-risk applications to operate under proportionate requirements while subjecting high-risk systems particularly dos bin use for healthcare, financial services, criminal justice, security and critical public infrastructure  to stronger safeguards.

such a framework fit also require transparency wey concern how high-impact automated decisions are make, independent testing for some kain ai systems, appropriate data protection measures and clear avenues for individuals to challenge decisions dat adversely affect dem.

Nigeria faces a defining policy choice

di debate ova ai regulation comes for a critical moment for nigeria. Di kontri na seeking to strengthen na digital economy and position itself as per major african hub for technology, innovation and artificial intelligence.

but technological ambition without effective governance fit create para para risks.

di kweshion na na im be say no bi weda Nigeria suppose embrace ai. Di kontri don already begun doing so. Di plenti pressing kweshion na weda di legal and institutional safeguards go develop quick quick e don do to ensure dat ai serves di public interest.

di lasu professor’s warning adds go growing bodi for expert opinion dey call for stronger ai governance for Nigeria. As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly embedded for everyday decision-making, policymakers face mounting pressure to establish rules dat promote innovation while protecting fundamental rights, privacy, fairness and public trust.

for obaland magazine, di emerging consensus na clear: Nigeria needs AI regulation dat na locally grounded, transparent, enforceable and flexible e don do to evolve alongside di technology. Di objective suppose no bi be to slow innovation, but to ensure dat technological progress does no bi com for di expense for kontri pipo’ rights and kontri interests.

sources

premium times
businessday
international association for privacy professionals
the guardian nigeria
Nigeria kontri artificial intelligence strategy

A Lasu Professor don urged Nigeria to bad-bad enact a kontri ai act, warning dat stronger regulation na needed to stop biased, unsafe and harmful artificial intelligence systems while protecting kontri pipo and supporting responsible innovation