Nigeria Tops Africa’s $2.1 Billion AI Surveillance Spending with $470 Million Investment

Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s largest investor in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance, committing over $470 million to smart city technologies. The figure represents more than 20% of the $2.1 billion spent by 11 African countries on AI surveillance, according to a March 2026 report by the Institute of Development Studies titled “Smart City Surveillance in Africa: Mapping Chinese AI Surveillance Across 11 Countries.”

The report surveyed deployments in Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, revealing that most of the infrastructure—ranging from facial recognition systems to automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technologies—was supplied by Chinese tech companies, often financed through soft loans. Other contributors included South Korea, Russia, the UAE, and several Western nations.

Nigeria alone accounted for 10,000 smart cameras, highlighting its rapid adoption of digital monitoring technologies. Mauritius followed closely with 4,143 cameras, while Kenya invested $219 million in 2,000 cameras. Despite these massive expenditures, the report found limited evidence that the increased surveillance has led to a meaningful reduction in crime or terrorism across the countries studied.

Experts warn that while AI surveillance can strengthen urban security, legal and ethical safeguards remain scarce. The report calls for dedicated laws defining who can collect and access surveillance data, as well as mandatory court warrants for monitoring activities. It also recommends independent oversight bodies to ensure transparency, prevent abuse, and maintain public trust.

Nigerians have voiced concerns about the effectiveness of these investments, particularly as kidnappings and violent crimes continue to rise. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi criticized the government for failing to leverage intelligence systems and tracking technologies effectively. Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, explained that criminals exploit unconventional tools and networks, which makes enforcement challenging despite nationwide initiatives like the NIN-SIM linkage.

source: nairametrics