By Hosea Parah

As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, experts are raising alarms about the potential ethical and legal implications of an artificial intelligence (AI) boom that may be outpacing necessary safeguards for citizens.

AI, defined by organizations like the European Commission as machine-based systems capable of making autonomous decisions and predictions, offers both opportunities for efficiency and innovation. However, it also brings urgent concerns about privacy, bias, and human rights, particularly in a rapidly digitizing country like Nigeria.

Recent advancements in digital systems—such as the National Identity Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), and various fintech platforms—have led to the processing of vast amounts of personal data. Yet, many Nigerians remain largely unaware of how their data is utilized, raising significant privacy issues.

The Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 marks a critical step toward addressing these challenges. This legislation established the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and introduced stronger protections for citizens, including rights to access, correct, and delete personal data, as well as to contest automated decision-making.

Despite this progress, experts emphasize that legislation alone is insufficient. “The real challenge is embedding ethical considerations into the design of AI systems themselves,” said a digital policy researcher in Abuja. “Without that, even compliant systems can still produce harmful outcomes.”

The troubled rollout of the NIMC Mobile ID app in 2020 serves as a cautionary tale. Reports indicated that user data was exposed, and identities were generated without adequate safeguards. Critics attribute such failures to the lack of proactive risk assessments, which are now mandated under the NDPA through Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).

AI systems are also under scrutiny for potential bias. Automated credit scoring technologies, for example, could unintentionally discriminate against marginalized groups if trained on biased historical data. Additionally, studies have shown that facial recognition technologies often perform poorly on darker skin tones, which raises alarms about their use in Nigeria’s security sector.

Human rights advocates stress that these issues threaten constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, including the right to privacy under Section 37 of Nigeria’s Constitution. Many citizens remain unaware of their digital rights, exacerbating the power imbalance between technology providers and users.

“There is a growing imbalance of power,” noted a civil society advocate. “People don’t know what data is collected, how it’s used, or how to challenge misuse.”

To effectively address these pressing challenges, analysts argue for a comprehensive “Ethics by Design” approach. This strategy would integrate fairness, transparency, and accountability into AI systems from the outset, while also involving civil society, technologists, and local communities in decision-making processes.

As AI technology evolves—from simple automation to complex autonomous systems—the stakes are rising across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, law enforcement, and governance. This evolution prompts difficult questions about accountability and control.

For Nigeria, the pressing issue is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to ensure that its implementation aligns with democratic values. With the NDPA laying a legal foundation, observers are keenly watching to see if Nigeria can construct an ethical framework robust enough to guarantee that technology serves the public good rather than undermining it.