The growing adoption of artificial intelligence in Nigeria’s healthcare sector is outpacing regulatory safeguards, prompting concerns among experts who warn that without urgent oversight, the technology could exacerbate inequality and expose patients to new risks.
This warning was central to a policy dialogue titled “AI in Healthcare: Risk or Asset?”, held on Thursday at the French Institute in Abuja. Stakeholders from government, the medical profession, and the development sector 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 keep pace with the speed of innovation.
Thierry Vapentin, Director of the French Institute, set the tone for the discussions, describing the institute as a space to confront emerging global issues through open debate. He stressed the importance of scrutinising both the opportunities and ethical dilemmas posed by AI in critical sectors like healthcare.
Dr. Anthony Ayeke of the European Union Delegation delivered a policy perspective, noting that while AI could significantly improve access and efficiency in healthcare delivery across Africa, an over-reliance on automated systems could undermine professional judgement and patient safety. He emphasised that human oversight must remain central to all AI-driven processes.
Dr. Niyi Osamiluyi, CEO of Premier Health Systems Consults, 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 a 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 foolproof.
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 worst 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 realised 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.
