Nigerian Religious Leaders Urge NASS to Regulate AI

A coalition of religious organizations has urged the Nigerian government to establish clear regulations for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prevent its uncontrolled expansion. The group, known as the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence, includes the Christian Council of Nigeria, the Institute of Church and Society (Ibadan), and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI).

During a press conference at the Institute of Church and Society in Ibadan, the coalition emphasized the urgent need for a legislative framework to govern AI’s role in national life. Delivering an address titled ‘God in the Engine: Religion and Artificial Intelligence’, Bishop Oluwole Onaleke of the Diocese of Agodi Methodist Church warned of serious consequences if AI development remains unchecked.

AI’s Ethical Dangers and the Threat to Humanity

The coalition expressed concerns that AI companies are attempting to redefine humanity, creating self-contained systems that could diminish the role of God in daily life. While acknowledging AI’s potential benefits in fields such as agriculture, healthcare, and education, they stressed the dangers of unregulated Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

“Artificial Intelligence can accelerate progress and provide solutions to contemporary challenges. It is clear that AI is now a permanent fixture in our world,” Bishop Onaleke stated. “However, it would be naive to believe that technological advancements do not impact humanity or that they do not foster a mindset where individuals act as if they are divine, often at the expense of their fellow humans”

The coalition argued that AI could disempower workers, manipulate religious beliefs, and erode human relationships without safeguards. They urged the National Assembly to take swift action in preventing AI from becoming an unchecked force in society.