AI-Powered Threats To Dominate Nigeria’s Cybersecurity In Next 5 Years – IT Expert Warns

Artificial intelligence (AI) will emerge as Nigeria’s biggest cybersecurity threat over the next five years, enabling hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in hours rather than months, an IT consultant has warned.

Managing partner at BlueRave Ltd, Adedoyin Adedeji, predicted AI agents could scan government platforms for weaknesses effortlessly, generate deepfake voices and faces for scams, and create unprecedented risks.

“AI is one of the biggest threats we have today. All I have to do is point AI agents to a particular government platform… within an hour or two, they will report back and tell you they found a vulnerability,” he said.

This forecast comes amid escalating breaches exposing Nigeria’s weak defenses. Hackers reportedly stole 25 million documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) database. In April, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) investigated Remita Payment Services and Sterling Bank over accessed sensitive data. First City Monument Bank (FCMB) lost N677 million to fraudsters targeting over N3 billion in March, while NDPC probed Temu in February for mishandling 12.7 million Nigerians’ data.

Adedeji blamed inadequate oversight, with government platforms often deploying without NITDA-led audits or penetration tests. Banks rely too heavily on third-party scanners and lack in-house teams, he added, amid a shortage of local cybersecurity experts—mostly self-taught—who prioritise foreign remote work.

AI offers defensive potential through pattern recognition and alerts but acts as a “double-edged sword,” Adedeji noted. He urged a national framework from the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the Office of the National Security Adviser, limiting AI’s data access, mandating platform certifications, and reforming university curricula to prioritise cybersecurity.

“Further steps include unified KYC systems to curb repetitive document uploads, hybrid anti-money laundering tools blending automation with human review per CBN mandates, and joint investments by banks and government in training academies. Post-breach accountability for vendors would restore public trust,” he said.

“Once we are able to come together and create a framework, all these things can come together,” he said.