• Lagos state will soon issue Nigeria’s first artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines for responsible development.
• The framework will guide developers and companies but will not constitute formal policy.
• The initiative comes amid growing national interest in digital innovation and AI governance.

Lagos, Nigeria’s leading economy and digital ecosystem, has announced the imminent release of the country’s first artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines.

Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Olatubosun Alake, revealed the plan during the official launch of tech firm Dyna.Ai. He stated that Lagos will publish the inaugural set of AI guidelines in the coming weeks, marking a major regulatory first for Nigeria.

“These are not policies,” Alake clarified. “They are just guidelines to make sure that you and I are building the kinds of products that, in the future, we will be proud to let our children use and not try to protect them from”. He described the guidelines as a flexible framework intended to steer responsible AI development by developers and companies, rather than serve as enforceable public policy.

Alake also cautioned against unchecked AI deployment, warning of risks that could become “radioactive in reputation.” He called for shared responsibility to ensure innovation serves the public interest.

Tokoni Peter Igoin, Special Advisor to the President on Digital Matters, also spoke at the event, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to responsible innovation, data protection, and digital security.

Tomas Skoumal, President of Dyna.Ai, highlighted Nigeria’s strategic importance as the company’s entry point into Africa. “There is no larger market than Nigeria on the continent,” he said, noting plans to invest in local talent, generate employment, and support regional digital development.

The anticipated AI guidelines arrive as artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated across sectors such as finance, cybersecurity, and human resources. Lagos’ move signals a proactive approach to fostering innovation while addressing emerging governance challenges in technology.