Nigeria Emerges as Africa’s Biggest AI Surveillance Investor

Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s biggest spender on artificial intelligence-powered surveillance, investing over $470 million—the largest share of at least $2.1 billion spent across 11 countries on the continent.

The figures come from a March 2026 report by the Institute of Development Studies titled “Smart City Surveillance in Africa: Mapping Chinese AI Surveillance Across 11 Countries.”

Inside Nigeria’s Surveillance Push

According to the report, Nigeria’s spending has focused heavily on:

AI-powered facial recognition systems
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technologies

With about 10,000 smart cameras deployed, Nigeria ranks not just as the biggest spender—but also one of the most heavily surveilled environments in Africa.

The study also suggests that the true cost may be higher, as surveillance spending is often opaque, with incomplete public disclosures across several countries.

China’s Dominance in Africa’s Surveillance Tech

A key finding of the report is the dominance of Chinese technology providers across Africa’s surveillance landscape. Much of the infrastructure in the 11 countries studied—including Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia—was supplied by Chinese firms and financed through soft loans from Chinese banks.

Other contributors include:

South Korea and Russia (three countries each)
United Arab Emirates (two countries)
United States, Israel, France, Spain, Iran, and Japan (one country each)
Big Spending, Limited Impact?

Despite the scale of investment, the report raises a critical question: Is surveillance actually reducing crime?

After analysing deployments over 5 to 10 years, researchers found:

Little evidence linking surveillance expansion to reduced crime rates
Few court cases relying on surveillance footage
No clear reduction in terrorism or serious criminal activity

This disconnect has fueled growing scepticism about the effectiveness of such large-scale investments.

Legal and Human Rights Concerns

The report also highlights a major governance gap:
None of the countries studied—including Nigeria—has a comprehensive legal framework to regulate AI surveillance.

Key recommendations include:

Clear laws defining who can collect and use surveillance data
Mandatory court warrants before surveillance is conducted
Independent oversight bodies to monitor usage and prevent abuse
Public transparency reports to build trust

Without these safeguards, experts warn that surveillance systems could undermine fundamental rights.

Rising Questions at Home

Within Nigeria, concerns are mounting over why advanced surveillance tools have not translated into improved security outcomes.

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised authorities, questioning why technologies like telecom tracking and intelligence systems have not curbed rising insecurity.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has acknowledged that criminals are increasingly using unconventional technologies and operating outside traditional telecom networks—making them harder to track.

The Bigger Picture

Nigeria’s leading investment in AI surveillance underscores a broader continental trend: governments are turning to technology to tackle security challenges.

But the evidence so far suggests a complex reality: More surveillance does not automatically mean more security

As spending grows, the real challenge may not just be deploying technology—but ensuring it is effective, accountable, and rights-respecting.