Nigeria’s AI Bill Proposes Mandatory Registration and Licensing for Developers and Users
Nigeria’s new AI bill mandates registration and licensing for AI developers and system deployers, establishing a National AI Council to oversee ethical use, transparency, and accountability across sectors.
Nigeria is taking a significant step toward regulating artificial intelligence with the introduction of a comprehensive AI bill that proposes mandatory registration and licensing for developers and users of AI technologies. The bill, introduced in late 2023 and undergoing legislative scrutiny in 2025, aims to establish the country’s first legal framework to govern AI development, deployment, and ethical use.
Central to the legislation is the creation of a National Artificial Intelligence Council, empowered to supervise and approve AI-related activities throughout Nigeria. The council’s mandate includes issuing technical and ethical guidelines, conducting audits, enforcing compliance, and promoting safe AI that aligns with human rights, public safety, and national security.
A key provision requires any individual or organization that develops, imports, distributes, or uses AI systems—primarily those integrating AI into commercial products or services—to register with the council and obtain official approval before operating. Ordinary users of public AI tools like ChatGPT are generally exempt. The bill introduces a risk-based regulatory approach, with stricter requirements for high-risk AI applications in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and public services.
Transparency and accountability are emphasized; AI operators must document system design, data sources, and operational use for audit purposes. Automated decision-making systems with significant human impact must disclose AI involvement and provide avenues for affected individuals to seek explanations or challenge outcomes.
The bill also aligns AI regulation with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act (2023) to ensure compliance with privacy and anti-discrimination principles. Furthermore, foreign AI systems deployed in Nigeria will need registration and approval, granting the government authority to restrict non-compliant platforms.
Capacity building, research, and inclusion efforts are encouraged within the bill to foster ethical AI innovation and reduce digital divides. However, concerns remain over potential bureaucratic burdens on startups and overlap with existing regulatory bodies, which could affect agility and innovation.
Overall, Nigeria’s AI bill represents a landmark policy to mainstream AI governance, balancing innovation with societal safeguarding in the country’s advancing digital economy.
