FG, Meta Unveil “GovGuide Nigeria” AI Chatbot to Transform Access to Public Services Across Nigeria

The Federal Government has partnered with Meta to launch GovGuide Nigeria, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to make access to public services faster, simpler, and more inclusive for citizens across Nigeria. The tool aims to help Nigerians get reliable government information through both voice and text in multiple local languages.

The initiative, announced by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, follows the unveiling of Meta’s Economic Impact Report in Nigeria. GovGuide Nigeria was developed through collaboration between Meta, the ministry, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and Nigerian tech firm Publica AI, using Meta’s open-source AI models, including Llama.

Designed as a multilingual assistant, the chatbot provides “seamless access” to information on government services in English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. It is also built to function via a web-based interface, making it accessible to both urban users and people in rural communities with limited digital literacy.

Speaking on the development, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the project reflects Nigeria’s push to use emerging technologies to improve public service delivery. Meta’s Head of Public Policy, Sade Dada, also described the initiative as an example of how open-source AI can drive innovation, productivity, and real-world solutions for everyday challenges.

Stakeholders involved in the project say GovGuide Nigeria represents a step toward more citizen-centered governance. Publica AI’s CEO, Ignatius Willie, noted that the chatbot is not just a digital tool but a shift toward making government services more conversational, accessible, and locally relevant. The launch comes as Nigeria continues to expand its digital economy and deepen adoption of artificial intelligence across public institutions.

source: punch