Governance and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Nigeria

Data privacy is a critical concern without adequate legal protection: Nigerian legal professionals identified data privacy risks as a major ethical concern, yet found that existing legal frameworks lack the enforceability needed to protect citizens from AI systems that collect and process personal information.

Developing countries need locally adapted AI governance, not imported solutions: Rather than simply copying AI regulations from wealthy nations, the study found that legal experts emphasized the importance of governance models tailored to Nigeria's specific institutional capacity, legal traditions, and economic context.

Institutional capacity to oversee AI remains limited: Participants expressed limited confidence in existing institutions' ability to effectively regulate and enforce AI governance, suggesting that building regulatory infrastructure must accompany any new legal frameworks.

Public accountability and legal oversight are prerequisites for AI adoption: While legal professionals acknowledged AI's potential benefits, they stressed that public trust and responsible deployment depend on strong legal oversight mechanisms and clear accountability structures—not just technological innovation.

Bridging global principles with local realities is essential for effective policy: The research highlights that successful AI governance requires connecting international ethical standards with an understanding of local economic, social, and institutional conditions, rather than treating AI regulation as a one-size-fits-all challenge.