Nigeria’s legal framework must urgently evolve alongside the rapid pace of artificial intelligence to prevent emerging technologies from outstripping regulatory oversight and user intent, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, has warned.
Speaking on Monday at the second edition of GITEX Nigeria in Lagos, Salisu emphasized that while technological advancement presents vast economic opportunities, it simultaneously creates critical legal and security vacuums that lawmakers must proactively address.
The lawmaker observed that with AI systems performing increasingly complex operations with minimal human oversight, policymakers can no longer afford to let statutory safeguards lag behind technical innovation.
“The technology is the way to go, and that is the homework,” Salisu said, stressing that technological gains must be deliberately steered through legislation to translate into sustainable productivity and national growth.
The Senator cautioned that Nigeria cannot fully harness the benefits of artificial intelligence without instituting binding measures on control, accountability, and systemic risk.
He noted that existing laws, drafted before the current surge in digital transformation, are ill-equipped to govern high-level autonomous systems.
Salisu clarified that responsive regulation is not intended to stifle the tech ecosystem, but rather to establish the legal clarity and certainty necessary for responsible innovation to flourish.
To position Nigeria as a secure and competitive technology hub, he argued that the country must couple its talent pool and digital infrastructure with modern regulatory frameworks that protect data and citizens while remaining attractive to investors.
He further cautioned against technological dependency, urging Nigeria to build the domestic capacity to develop, regulate, and secure its own digital assets rather than relying solely on foreign-engineered tools.
Calling for sustained collaboration among the National Assembly, executive regulators, developers, and investors, Salisu maintained that immediate legislative action will determine Nigeria’s role in the global AI landscape.
“We cannot afford to drop the ball,” Salisu concluded, urging stakeholders to ensure that ongoing technological progress is matched by agile legal frameworks and institutional readiness.