From Our Correspondent
Abuja, Jan. 13, ’26 (TNZ) The Federal Government is set to begin to regulate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country.
TheNewsZenith reports that the legislation is part of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, which the National Assembly will expect to pass in March 2026.
The law is to give the regulators expanded authority over data usage, algorithms and digital platforms across the country’s fast-growing technology sector.
Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said the agency designed the legislation to regulate AI early rather than retroactively.
This is as adoption accelerates across Nigeria’s financial sector, public services and private industry,
“You cannot be ahead of innovation, but regulation is not just about giving commands.
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“It’s about influencing market, economic and societal behaviour so people can build AI for good,” TheNewsZenith quotes Abdullah as saying.
The bill will establish a comprehensive governance framework for emerging technologies.
It will close the regulatory gap that has existed since Nigeria released a draft national AI strategy in 2024.
Nigeria will become a pioneer and one of the first African countries to adopt a comprehensive regulatory regime for AI if the law is passed.
TheNewsZenith gathered that three African countries, Egypt, Benin and Mauritius, have AI strategies, but that they are yet to put in place appropriate legislation. (TNZ)
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