LEGALAND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The 21 century has seen Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerge as a revolutionary technology that affects various sectors of the economy, healthcare, agriculture, education, and police services worldwide. Why is AI such enigmatic? Nigeria has seen a surge in the use of AI-driven systems, leading to economic development, better public service quality, and innovation. However, this development also presents complex judicial and moral problems. Data privacy breaches, algorithmic bias, accountability gaps, and the lack of clear liability frameworks are among several issues that require comprehensive governance. The main obstacle identified in this paper is the absence of a dedicated regulatory and ethical framework for the advancement, deployment, and use of AI technologies in Nigeria. The paper adopts a doctrinal methodology, drawing on current Nigerian legislation, foreign law, academic literature, and policy papers to evaluate the appropriateness of present systems. The paper's comparative legal analysis reveals significant gaps in Nigeria's legal framework, which include inadequate data protection enforcement, limited institutional capacity, and inadequate ethical oversight mechanisms for AI applications. The paper suggests that solution to these difficulties would be to create an innovative approach, detailed National AI Policy and Legal Framework to create a foundation. Moreover, the proposal suggests improved training of regulatory agents and lawyers in AI research, collaborative public-private partnerships, and the integration of international best practices focused on fairness. According to the paper, Nigeria's sustainable digital transformation can only be achieved through proactive, rights-based governance involving AI that balances innovation with legal and ethical obligations. Ethical considerations and strong legal structures can be integrated into the development of AI, enabling Nigeria to tap into its transformative potential while maintaining fundamental rights and public trust.