Stakeholders in the criminal and justice sector have cautioned security agencies on the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in crime prevention in Nigeria.

They emphasised the need for a strong institutional frameworks, ethical standards, and inclusive engagement to guide its use.

According to them, for Nigeria, the question is no longer whether AI will influence the security sector, but how prepared the country is to harness its potential responsibly.

Speaking in Abuja at a donor roundtable on Nigeria’s readiness for AI in security sector reform and governance, the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma, said noted that adopting AI in the security sector requires more than technology, and emphasized the need for a robust institutions, clear legal and ethical frameworks, adequate human capacity, and sustained investment.

He stated that although AI presents significant opportunities to improve efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness, it also comes with complex risks which include algorithmic bias, surveillance overreach, data privacy concerns, and weak regulatory oversight.

Maduoma called on development partners to support Nigeria in research, capacity building, regulatory development, and the deployment of ethical AI solutions.

He added that the foundation believes that with the right partnerships, strategies, and technologies, Nigeria can build a safer, more secure, and more just society for all citizens.

He called for inclusive dialogue among key stakeholders, particularly government, civil society, and development partners.

A professor of Criminology Etannibi Alemika in his paper presentation on Application to AI and security sector reform in Nigeria also cautioned on the deployment of AI in tackling insecurity situation in the country

He cautioned that the application of AI in criminal justice system and administration without widespread awareness of its limitation and dangers can aggravate injustices and human rights violation among the poor and powerless in society.

He said “we must know the strengths and weaknesses of AI. It’s not a question whether to adopt or not to adopt. No, it’s a question of where do we use it? How do we use it? And then how do we understand the input into it? And then understand the limitation when we’re taking decision.”

The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, who was represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Information Technology Hassan Gwani stated that the Nigeria Police Force recognizes that the evolving nature of crime and security threats requires dynamic and technologically driven responses.

He said Artificial Intelligence and emerging digital tools present opportunities to enhance intelligence gathering, predictive policing, operational efficiency, and overall service delivery. Some key Applications of Artificial Intelligence that the NPF is leveraging on to enhance policing include.

The CP however harped on the need to ensure ensure that such advancements are guided by strong ethical frameworks, respect for human rights, and inclusivity. Building public trust must remain at the core of all reform initiatives.

He reiterated the commitment of NPF to strengthening its institutional frameworks, enhance personnel capacity, and adopt global best practices in the responsible use of technology.