Artificial Intelligence and Civil Liberties in Nigeria

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers significant potential for governance, public service delivery, and security in Nigeria. However, its deployment raises serious concerns for civil liberties, especially freedom of expression, non-discrimination, privacy, accountability, and due process. Nigeria lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework to safeguard these rights, creating a gap where artificial intelligence-driven surveillance, algorithmic decision-making, and automated moderation can operate unchecked. This study investigates the impact of artificial intelligence on civil liberties in Nigeria, identifies ethical, institutional, and legal challenges, assesses existing regulatory mechanisms, and proposes reforms to align artificial intelligence use with rights protection. Using a doctrinal-analytical method, the study reviews statutes, policy documents, academic literature, and case law. It also analyses selected case studies, like artificial intelligence use in media and judicial contexts, and draws comparative insights from other jurisdictions. Findings reveal that while legal instruments like the Evidence Act, NITDA Act, and NDPR exist, they are inadequate to regulate the opacity and complexity of artificial intelligence technologies. Significant gaps remain in transparency, remedies from rights violations, institutional oversight, and algorithmic accountability. Without proper safeguards, artificial intelligence use in Nigeria risks eroding civil liberties through opaque, unchallengeable systems and mass surveillance. The study therefore concludes that Nigeria must act proactively to balance innovation with rights protection. It recommends enacting a comprehensive artificial intelligence governance law, establishing independent oversight bodies, mandating algorithmic impact assessments, enforcing transparency and explainability requirements, promoting public digital rights literacy, and strengthening judicial and institutional capacity.