The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has warned that artificial intelligence (AI)-generated misinformation, deepfake videos and sophisticated cyberattacks could be used to manipulate Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, raised the concern on Wednesday during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on preparations for the International Cybersecurity Conference 2026.
Abdullahi said the growing use of AI to produce convincing but misleading political messages posed a serious threat to public trust, information integrity and national cybersecurity, particularly as more Nigerians rely on social media for news and political information.
He explained that cybercriminals were increasingly targeting human vulnerabilities through social engineering rather than focusing solely on computer systems.
“Because today, as a hacker, it’s easier for me to hack humans than to hack systems,” Abdullahi said, warning that AI-generated audio, videos and messages could influence public opinion without people realising they were being manipulated.
He urged Nigerians to verify the authenticity of political content before believing or sharing it online, cautioning that the technology could be exploited to spread coordinated misinformation during the election period.
The NITDA chief also warned that AI was making cybercrime more sophisticated, particularly as organisations increasingly adopted AI agents to automate business operations. He said criminals who hijacked such systems could gain control over business processes in ways comparable to taking over the duties of employees.
Although AI could improve the detection and prevention of cyber threats, Abdullahi noted that it could also facilitate more convincing scams and automated attacks. He attributed more than 95 per cent of cybersecurity breaches to human error, stressing the need for stronger digital literacy and public awareness.
On the forthcoming conference, he said the event had been upgraded from the National Cybersecurity Conference to an international gathering following increased interest from participants across Africa and other regions.
The conference, themed “Cyber Resilience in the Age of AI: Defending Minds, Networks, and Nations,” will address emerging threats, including deepfakes, cognitive manipulation, cybercrime and attacks on critical infrastructure.
According to Abdullahi, the event will feature 13 keynote addresses and 16 panel discussions, alongside a cybersecurity hackathon expected to attract about 1,946 participants from secondary schools, tertiary institutions, professional bodies and government agencies.
He identified the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Communications Commission as principal partners, adding that the conference would promote collaboration, develop local cybersecurity expertise and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond to emerging digital threats.
Abdullahi further emphasised that cybersecurity was essential to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy, warning that inadequate protection against online fraud could undermine public confidence in electronic transactions and discourage the adoption of e-commerce.
He called on public and private organisations to invest in cybersecurity, improve incident-response preparedness and integrate security measures into digital infrastructure from the design stage.
The NITDA director-general also highlighted the potential of responsible technology adoption to improve productivity in agriculture, financial services, education, healthcare and small businesses.
He maintained that stronger digital protection and public trust would be crucial to enabling Nigeria to benefit from AI-driven innovation while minimising the risks posed by emerging cyber threats.
