Foreign AI may control Nigeria if we lose sovereignty, NITDA DG warns
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Foreign AI may control Nigeria if we lose sovereignty, NITDA DG warns
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has warned that Nigeria risks losing control of its economy, data and critical national systems if it fails to develop ownership of the artificial intelligence technologies shaping its future.
Abdullahi gave the warning on Monday at the opening of GITEX NIGERIA 2026 in Abuja, where he called for urgent action to build Nigeria’s capacity across the entire artificial intelligence technology stack.
The NITDA boss said Nigeria’s quest for digital sovereignty must go beyond developing AI applications to include control of the infrastructure, data, cloud systems, algorithms and technologies on which AI depends.
According to him, excessive dependence on AI systems developed and controlled outside Nigeria could expose the country to manipulation and undermine its economic and national security interests.
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“If we don’t have control over it, whoever controls that AI can manipulate us, can control everything we do,” Abdullahi warned.
He stressed that AI sovereignty was not merely a geopolitical concept but a question of Nigeria’s ability to exercise digital self-determination.
Abdullahi said, “We need to look at it end-to-end, the entire technology stack, not just the AI itself,” noting that connectivity, data centres and cloud infrastructure were critical to building national AI capacity.
The NITDA DG said the Federal Government had begun putting in place the policy and regulatory foundations required to strengthen Nigeria’s digital sovereignty.
He cited the recent regulatory instruments on cloud and data sovereignty as important steps towards encouraging data-centre development, localising data and strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
Abdullahi also said Nigeria needed greater ownership of AI technologies, algorithms and data, arguing that effective data governance was essential to developing AI systems capable of addressing the country’s peculiar needs.
The warning came as the second edition of GITEX NIGERIA opened in Abuja, bringing together government officials, technology executives, investors, startups and digital economy stakeholders from Nigeria and other parts of the world.
The four-day event, holding in Abuja and Lagos from August 31 to September 3, is themed “Beyond Connectivity – The Bridge to Sovereign AI and Innovation.”
The Abuja phase featured the Government Leadership and AI Summit, which focused on digital sovereignty, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, connectivity and investment.
Abdullahi said Nigeria was already building the human capital required to support its digital transformation through initiatives including the Three Million Technical Talent programme, Digital Literacy for All and Project BRIDGE.
He said the programmes were helping to expand Nigeria’s technical talent pool while extending digital inclusion across the country.
The NITDA DG maintained that the country must move beyond being a consumer of imported technologies and develop the capacity to create solutions capable of competing in the global market.
“Achieving true digital sovereignty means owning the capabilities, infrastructure, and intelligence that power our future,” he said.
He added that Nigeria was developing the policy, cloud infrastructure and regulatory frameworks necessary to host data locally, deploy AI responsibly and improve national productivity.
Abdullahi said GITEX NIGERIA provided an important platform for Nigeria to engage global technology players while also shaping the international conversation on AI sovereignty.
The event is supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with NITDA and endorsed by the Lagos State Government.
The Lagos phase of the event, scheduled for September 2 and 3, will feature a technology expo and startup programme aimed at connecting Nigerian entrepreneurs with international investors, technology companies and global markets.
