Experts Sound Alarm Over Unregulated AI in Nigeria’s Healthcare System

By: Michael Mike

Growing adoption of artificial intelligence in Nigeria’s healthcare sector is outpacing regulatory safeguards, raising concerns among experts who warned that without urgent oversight, the technology could deepen inequality and expose patients to new risks.

This warning took centre stage at a policy dialogue titled “AI in Healthcare: Risk or Asset?”, held Thursday at the French Institute in Abuja, where stakeholders from government, medicine, and development circles examined the expanding role of AI in health service delivery.

Speakers at the forum acknowledged that AI is already transforming diagnostics, laboratory systems, and patient management. However, they cautioned that Nigeria’s regulatory environment has yet to catch up with the speed of innovation.

Director of the French Institute, Thierry Vapentin, set the tone for the discussions, describing the platform as a space to confront emerging global issues through open debate. He stressed the importance of interrogating both the opportunities and ethical dilemmas posed by AI in critical sectors like healthcare.

Delivering a policy perspective, Dr. Anthony Ayeke of the European Union Delegation noted that while AI could significantly improve access and efficiency in healthcare delivery across Africa, blind reliance on automated systems could undermine professional judgment and patient safety. He emphasized that human oversight must remain central in all AI-driven processes.

In his intervention, the CEO of Premier Health Systems Consults, Dr. Niyi Osamiluyi argued that Nigeria urgently needs a clearly defined ethical and regulatory framework to guide AI deployment. He outlined key principles including transparency, inclusiveness, accountability, data protection, and auditability, warning that failure to assign responsibility for AI outcomes could create dangerous accountability gaps.

The issue of data integrity also featured prominently. Joshua Kojalo highlighted ongoing government-backed digital health initiatives, particularly mobile applications designed to expand access to health insurance. However, he warned that overdependence on foreign datasets could embed bias into local systems, potentially excluding vulnerable populations. He called for deliberate investment in locally generated data to ensure fairness and accuracy.

From an operational standpoint, Dr. Temitope Agbana, Co-founder of AIDX Medical, shared field experiences demonstrating AI’s impact on laboratory efficiency, noting that automated systems have significantly increased processing capacity. Despite these gains, he maintained that technology must remain a support tool rather than a substitute for human expertise, stressing that no AI system is entirely error-proof.

Equity concerns dominated the latter part of the discussion, with Dr. Chimezie Anyakora, CEO of Bloom Public Health, warning that weak regulation could leave already disadvantaged communities exposed to the harshest consequences of technological failure. He cautioned that without deliberate safeguards, AI could reinforce existing healthcare disparities rather than bridge them.

Participants agreed that Nigeria risks creating a two-tier healthcare system where advanced AI-driven services are accessible only to the wealthy, while rural and low-income populations are left behind.

The forum concluded with a strong consensus that Nigeria must act swiftly to establish robust regulatory frameworks, invest in capacity building, and ensure inclusive access. Experts stressed that while AI holds immense potential to transform healthcare delivery, its benefits will only be realized if innovation is matched with responsibility.

Without decisive action, they warned, the same technology that promises progress could ultimately widen the gap it seeks to close.

Experts Sound Alarm Over Unregulated AI in Nigeria’s Healthcare System

Push for Justice Reform Gains Momentum as AGF Backs Practical Legal Training for Young Lawyers

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s drive to strengthen its criminal justice system received a fresh boost on Thursday as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, threw his weight behind practical legal training as a catalyst for reform, urging emerging lawyers to take ownership of the country’s rule of law.

Speaking in Abuja through his representative, Hauwa Dimka, at the Administration of Criminal Justice Academy Moot Competition, Fagbemi underscored the urgent need to move beyond theoretical legal education to hands-on experience that prepares young practitioners for the realities of Nigeria’s justice system.

The competition, organised by the Juristrust Centre in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, was framed not just as a student exercise, but as a strategic intervention in addressing longstanding gaps in legal training and justice delivery.

Fagbemi described Nigeria’s justice sector as one that requires bold, skilled and ethically grounded professionals, noting that the success of reforms such as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 hinges on the capacity of lawyers to interpret and apply the law effectively.

He warned that without a new generation of competent and reform-minded legal practitioners, even the most progressive laws risk falling short of their intended impact.

“The future of justice in Nigeria depends on how well prepared you are today,” he said, charging participants to embrace integrity, professionalism and courage in the face of systemic challenges.

The event also drew attention to the growing role of non-state actors and international partners in shaping Nigeria’s legal landscape, particularly in promoting accountability, efficiency and innovation within the justice system.

Executive Director of the Juristrust Centre, Adedeji Adekunle, said the initiative was deliberately designed to expose students to real-life courtroom dynamics and critical thinking, equipping them to confront practical legal challenges early in their careers.

He noted that participants from universities across the country demonstrated not only academic excellence but also a deepening understanding of justice as a tool for societal transformation.

Reinforcing the importance of mentorship and innovation, Kole Shettima of the MacArthur Foundation called on young lawyers to rethink traditional approaches to legal practice by embracing technology and new ideas that can improve access to justice.

Similarly, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Cheikh Touré, highlighted the broader implications of the initiative, describing it as a pipeline for grooming the next generation of justice sector leaders.

He stressed that beyond advocacy skills, the competition instils values of fairness, discipline and ethical responsibility—qualities he said are essential for restoring public trust in the justice system.

Themed “From Theory to Trial: Mentorship Pathways for Emerging Criminal Lawyers in Nigeria,” the event culminated in a high-stakes moot court finale, showcasing the talents of law students from multiple institutions and reinforcing a growing consensus: that meaningful justice reform in Nigeria must begin with how its lawyers are trained.

Push for Justice Reform Gains Momentum as AGF Backs Practical Legal Training for Young Lawyers

Calm returns to Pulka after Wednesday night attack on the town

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Residents of Pulka who ran to the bush yesterday night have returned home even as the troops of the Nigerian military repelled attempts by insurgents from sacking the town.

The insurgents too residents hinted did not leave without injecting their trade marks on the base of the military in the community leaving about three soldiers dead.

A source who wanted anonymity said that she had to run out of her house with her neighbors at about ten pm wednesday evening into the thick savannah to hide so that they are not attacked, killed or abducted when the criminals entered the community.

“We were all relaxing in our homes when the sounds of gun fire rented the air. Not knowing what to do we locked our doors and waited indoors while praying that the worse should not happen to us residents.

” Towards 10.30 pm the artillery blasts became intensified. Then suddenly, we heard the voices of soldiers telling us to run away into the bush showing us the safe direction to go into the dark while they stayed back to face the criminals.

” We stayed in the bush untill around 1 am when word reached one of our neighbors that the coast was clear to return to base. So by two am some of us were back into our residences trying to survive as usual.

” Nobody could sleep in the bush regardless of our tiredness which we were going through. We came back only to hear that the base of our military protectors was sacked and burnt down leaving three soldiers dead in as at the wee hours of the night.

” Very sad indeed. I feel for them because they are going to start a fresh. Sadly, this has been the routine which we have been following since a couple of years ago, I started working for my agency in this town.” She lamented.

Pulka which is about 109 km is at the foot of the Mandara mountains which is the hot bed of Boko Haram in Borno State.

Calm returns to Pulka after Wednesday night attack on the town