Figures cited by The Punch show that Nigeria has emerged as the top buyer of Artificial Intelligence (AI) surveillance technology in Africa, spending over $470 million on systems primarily supplied by Chinese firms. The investment is part of a broader government strategy to use technology to combat urban crime and track insurgent movements.
However, the acquisition has sparked a debate regarding privacy and the effectiveness of these systems. While the government maintains that the tech is vital for national security, civil rights groups have raised concerns about the potential for mass surveillance and the lack of a robust data protection framework.
The Nation reported on the “rising spend on Chinese-supplied tech,” and The Guardian noted that “privacy advocates are calling for a regulatory framework” to govern the use of AI in security.
Echotitbits take: High-tech surveillance can be a force multiplier, but only if integrated with traditional policing. Without proper maintenance and skilled personnel to interpret the data, this $470 million could become another “white elephant” project.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/nigeria-spends-470m-on-ai-powered-surveillance-devices/, March 23, 2026
Photo credit: The Punch
