The Nigeria digital economy bill, formally the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, includes a chapter on artificial intelligence. In the version published on the National Assembly website, it covers any person or public body that develops, deploys or operates AI systems used in Nigeria. They would have to manage risk in line with a system’s risk level, tell users about its limits, guard against bias, keep records for audits, name who is responsible and allow human intervention where risks are significant. The regulator, which the bill ties to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), could sort AI systems into risk levels, require audits and suspend risky activities. Penalties could reach the higher of ₦10 million or 2% of annual gross revenue from Nigeria. The bill also sets up regulatory sandboxes, with priority for local start-ups and small businesses.
Nigerian news reports say the bill passed first reading in the Senate on 3 July 2025 and second reading days later, and was sent to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity. The Senate and House committees held a joint public hearing on 10 November 2025. On 27 October 2026, news reports quoted the committee chair, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, as saying the bill had reached third reading and could pass before the end of 2026. It is not yet clear when both chambers will give final approval, when the President will sign it, or how much the AI chapter has changed in later amendments.