Nigeria faces AI-driven disinformation and security challenges ahead of 2027 elections

Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, officials have warned that a surge in AI‑generated misinformation and ongoing insecurity threaten national stability. At the Arewa Media Summit in Kano, Senior Special Assistant Abdulaziz Abdulaziz urged journalists and digital influencers to verify information and act as custodians of the public discourse. In Abuja, retired Maj‑Gen. Chris Olukolade, chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, said, "We have observed a marked deterioration in Nigeria’s security landscape," and highlighted how criminal groups are exploiting AI‑created fake content and hate speech to undermine security operations and inflame ethnic and religious tensions.

The CCC’s second‑quarter 2026 report linked rising inflation, food insecurity and economic hardship to heightened social vulnerability, and called for stronger, intelligence‑driven collaboration among security forces. It also warned of restrictions on press freedom that could erode democratic accountability. Meanwhile, SBM Intelligence identified a burgeoning commercial opportunity: startups and cybersecurity firms can develop tools to detect deepfakes, verify political media, and monitor online narratives, turning the fight against AI‑driven election misinformation into a fast‑growing technology market in Nigeria.