Experts and stakeholders in security matters have advocated the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance Nigeria’s cyber security.

They spoke at a security seminar, workshop and investiture, themed: “Security in the 21st century”, organised by the Police Community Police Relations Committee (PCRC), Redeemed Division, at the Redeemed City, Mowe, Ogun State.

According to the experts, leveraging and consciously applying AI in organisations, communities and other concerns can improve their defences, reduce risks and enhance overall security effectiveness.

Leading the call, Ogun State chairman of PCRC, Dr Samson Kunle Popoola, said that despite huge investments and breakthroughs in technological advancements, many hackers and computer rogues are always a step ahead of inventions, thereby making the issue of cyber security a priority.

He called on citizens to ensure protection against malware, viruses, and other cyber threats.

According to him, there is a need for secure data storage and transmission, network security and firewall configuration, user authentication and access control, incident response and threat hunting and cybersecurity awareness as well as training to beat hackers and stay safe.

He said fortunes are being lost daily in cyber robbery and data thefts and many have been subjected to cyberbullying and blackmail because of their vulnerabilities in cyberspace.

He added that many have bought into sophisticated gadgets only to open themselves up to easy tracking and attacks by cybercriminals.

“To be a step ahead of cyber attackers, the use of artificial intelligence must constantly be applied because of its inherent advantages, which include improving the robustness of a system by producing consistently expected outputs even when fed with defective or inaccurate inputs. This is done with software that can self-heal and self-test,” he added.

Speaking on the importance of AI, he said: “AI can process and analyse large amounts of data quickly, helping to identify potential threats. Most of our communication gadgets are currently using artificial intelligence.”

On his part, a retired naval officer and Assistant Continental Overseer, Research and Development, Redeemed Christian Church, Pastor Joshua Bolarinwa, who spoke on the use of AI to secure data, noted that AI is not a silver bullet to solve all cyber security problems, as it must constantly be used in conjunction with other security measures to ensure adequate security of data.

He reiterated that the adoption of Al cybersecurity solutions offers several advantages for organisations and their IT and security teams.

According to him, Al security offers organisations a powerful means of fortifying their cybersecurity defences by leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and deep learning techniques.

Bolarinwa said Al can also enhance threat detection, automate processes, and provide continuous protection. With the right Al solution in place, organisations can effectively combat the evolving landscape of cyber threats and secure their digital assets.

He listed bias and discrimination as one of the disadvantages of Al.

“Al systems can perpetuate existing biases if they are trained on biased data, leading to unfair treatment of certain groups. Al-powered security systems are only as good as the data they are trained on. Poor data quality can lead to inaccurate results. Al systems can be vulnerable to cyber attacks and exploits, potentially compromising security.

“Al systems may not always understand the context or nuances of a situation, leading to potential errors. Al-powered security systems may collect and process large amounts of personal data, raising privacy concerns.

“As a matter of urgency, people in the security business must engage professionals in Artificial Intelligence Technology in inventing security-oriented Al that will counter the advantages of and abuse of Al,” he added.

Other security experts like the Registrar of Forensic Science, Pastor Emmanuel Olomu and Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Redeemed Division, CSP Okikiolu Joshua called for the institution of forensic analysis and citizens’ partnership in crime investigation and control.