Long time no writing :writing_hand:
I was off social media for a few days. When I got back online, I saw a headline that got me thinking:
“The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to deploy artificial intelligence to identify poor Nigerians.”
At first glance, it sounds like progress, using technology to make sure help reaches the right people.
But as someone who has studied AI and spent time understanding its ethical implications, I believe we need to pause and ask… See moreLong time no writing :writing_hand:
I was off social media for a few days. When I got back online, I saw a headline that got me thinking:
“The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to deploy artificial intelligence to identify poor Nigerians.”
At first glance, it sounds like progress, using technology to make sure help reaches the right people.
But as someone who has studied AI and spent time understanding its ethical implications, I believe we need to pause and ask the right questions. Because if we don’t get this right before the system is implemented, we could cause more harm than good.
Let’s start here: how will the AI know who is poor?
AI doesn’t just make decisions. It learns from data.
So what kind of data will be used?
Our phone records?
Our locations?
Our bank transactions?
Our activity online?
And the real question is will anyone ask for our consent?
If our personal data is being collected and analyzed without our knowledge, that’s not innovation.
That’s a violation of our privacy.
Now let’s talk about what it means to be “poor.”
Poverty is not just about income. It’s also about access to healthcare, education, housing, clean water, electricity, and opportunity.
So who gets to define poverty in this system?
What criteria will be used?
Will the system understand the realities of life across Nigeria i mean from Lagos to Maiduguri to the villages in Plateau?
If the AI is trained with narrow or incomplete data, entire communities could be left out.
And those who truly need support might not even show up in the algorithm.
And when the system makes mistakes, and it will! what happens next?
AI is not perfect.
If someone is wrongly excluded, how will they know?
Can they appeal?
Will anyone be held accountable?
Or will we be left to struggle with a system that cannot explain itself?
That’s why transparency is not optional.
Who is designing this system?
What data is being used?
Who is reviewing it for fairness?
Is there independent oversight?
If we cannot confidently answer these questions going forward, then we are not ready to roll out this kind of technology.
We’ve seen examples from other countries.
In the Netherlands, AI was used to detect welfare fraud. It ended in disaster. The courts ruled the system discriminatory. Innocent people were punished. Trust was lost.
Do we want to repeat that here?
To those implementing this AI system, please be critical, be careful, and be accountable.
Technology should never be rushed at the cost of people’s dignity.
Let’s not treat Nigerians as data points.
Let’s not build systems that sort lives without understanding the full picture.
We’re not saying no to AI.
We’re saying: build it right.
Build it transparently.
Build it with Nigerians at the center.
And above all - protect our data, our dignity, and our rights.
We can’t afford to get this wrong.
Because this is not just about technology.
It’s about the people.
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