The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has called for a more human-centred approach to digital transformation, warning that technological advancement without ethics and accountability could weaken public trust.

Speaking at the 4th Biennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences at University of Ilorin in collaboration with RUDN University, Adeniyi said governments and institutions must ensure artificial intelligence serves society responsibly.

The conference, themed “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” gathered academics, policymakers, technology experts, communication scholars, and public sector leaders to discuss the impact of AI and digital innovation on governance, trade, education, and economic development.

“The digital age is, in the end, a human story, and the real test of our generation is not how powerful our machines become, but how wisely our societies choose to use them,” Adeniyi said during his keynote address.

Why It Matters

The comments come as governments and businesses across Africa increasingly adopt AI-powered systems, digital payments, automation, and e-commerce technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Nigeria has also accelerated digital reforms in customs administration, taxation, financial services, and public governance as part of broader economic modernisation efforts.

Experts say the challenge for many African countries is balancing innovation with data protection, transparency, accountability, and employment concerns.

Adeniyi argued that public institutions must ensure technology improves operational efficiency without eroding accountability structures or weakening public confidence.

“The partnership, not the rivalry, between human and artificial intelligence is where the real value lies,” he said.

Customs Highlights Digital Transformation Gains

Drawing from reforms within the Customs Service, Adeniyi pointed to the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System as a major milestone in trade facilitation and cargo processing.

According to him, the platform generated more than N230 billion at the PTML Command within its first eight months of operation.

He also said cargo clearance timelines for compliant traders had been reduced to less than eight hours, a development expected to improve trade efficiency and reduce delays at ports.

Industry analysts say faster cargo clearance could help lower logistics costs for importers and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional trade.

“Technology changes processes; leadership and expertise still deliver the results,” Adeniyi added.

Universities Urged to Drive Innovation

The Customs boss also challenged universities and research institutions to move beyond theoretical learning and play a more active role in solving governance and digital economy challenges.

He identified areas where academia could support Customs modernisation, including:

AI-driven risk management systems

Digital compliance frameworks

Public trust communication strategies

Governance of cross-border data flows

Adeniyi further called on African governments to develop digital governance systems tailored to local realities, legal systems, and development priorities.

He said technological advancement must remain accountable to citizens and aligned with societal needs.

Industry and Public Perspectives

Technology policy experts have increasingly warned about the risks of adopting artificial intelligence without adequate regulation, especially in developing economies where digital infrastructure and legal protections are still evolving.

Communication scholars at the conference also stressed the growing importance of ethical leadership, media literacy, and responsible AI deployment in public institutions.

For businesses and traders, improvements in Customs automation could reduce bottlenecks, simplify documentation processes, and improve transparency in cargo handling.

What’s Next

The conference is expected to strengthen collaboration between government institutions, universities, and international research bodies on digital innovation and governance.

On the sidelines of the event, Adeniyi met with communication professionals, traditional leaders, academics, and heads of government agencies to discuss partnerships in digital research, innovation, and capacity development.

Analysts say such collaborations may become increasingly important as African countries seek to compete in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.

……Faith leaders say Nigeria must not become a passive consumer of artificial intelligence.

Religious leaders, journalists and policy advocates in Nigeria have called for urgent ethical safeguards around artificial intelligence (AI), warning that unchecked technological development could deepen misinformation, inequality, job losses and social instability.

The warnings came during a high-level interface on AI ethics titled “God in the Engine”, organised by the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence.

The event, facilitated by the CCN-Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan, with support from the Future of Life Institute, United States, was held on 12 May 2026 at the Wesley Pastoral Centre in Yaba, Lagos.

Participants said Nigeria and Africa must have a stronger voice in shaping global AI ethics frameworks instead of merely consuming technologies developed abroad.

Why the summit matters

The conference reflected growing global concerns over artificial intelligence, particularly around Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), deepfakes, misinformation, privacy, automation and machine autonomy.

Speakers argued that AI is no longer limited to technology companies or research laboratories, but is already reshaping communication, governance, education, religion, journalism and everyday human interaction.

Opening the event, Rt. Rev. Dr. Evans Onyemara, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Nigeria, described the gathering as part of an ongoing national conversation about the role of AI in society.

He said AI was already influencing “how people understand truth and reality,” warning that manipulated images, fake voices and AI-generated propaganda could erode trust in institutions and journalism.

“The question before us is how to ensure AI serves humanity rather than destroys it,” he said.

He also stressed that religious leaders could not remain silent on technological ethics.

“The church believes innovation without ethics becomes dangerous,” he added.

Nigeria urged to shape AI ethics, not just consume technology

Setting the framework for the discussions, Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi, Director of the CCN-Institute of Church and Society, referenced Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025 developed through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

He argued that religious communities should serve as the “moral voice” and “conscience of the nation” in discussions about AI governance.

Fadahunsi said Nigerians were already consuming AI technologies through smartphones, drones, social media algorithms and digital platforms, even if many did not fully understand the long-term implications.

He warned against the dangers associated with AGI and superintelligence systems, saying Nigeria should pursue “trusted” and ethically driven AI policies.

According to him, Nigeria should adopt a selective approach to AI technologies entering the country, similar to how governments regulate imports and sensitive technologies.

“We must guide technology with wisdom rather than simply resist it,” he said.

Fears over deepfakes, misinformation and identity fraud

Several speakers raised concerns about AI-generated deception and online manipulation.

Archbishop Adewale Adegbemi, Methodist Archbishop of Ogun State, warned that AI could threaten privacy rights and fuel identity fraud through fake emails, signatures and impersonation tools.

He cited examples of fraudulent digital communications and contracts allegedly linked to AI misuse in parts of Africa.

“Machines only know what humans feed into them, but the danger is when people lose control over the systems they create,” he said.

He also warned that AI lacked human qualities such as empathy, compassion and moral judgment.

“There is urgent need for local, national and international laws to regulate AI technology,” he added.

The conference also highlighted concerns about deepfake videos, manipulated audio and AI-generated misinformation capable of influencing elections, public opinion and religious tensions.

Participants said journalists would play a critical role in defending truth in the AI era.

Journalists urged to defend truth in the AI age

Speakers repeatedly emphasised the importance of ethical journalism as AI-generated content becomes harder to distinguish from authentic reporting.

Organisers said society increasingly depended on journalists capable of verifying facts with integrity amid the spread of AI-driven propaganda.

Religious leaders and media practitioners at the summit warned that public trust could collapse if misinformation technologies continue advancing faster than verification systems.

During practical sessions led by facilitator Nkechi, participants discussed how internet-connected devices and AI systems were already shaping information exposure and influencing behaviour.

Some speakers warned that algorithms could manipulate emotions, opinions and even spiritual beliefs through targeted digital content.

Concerns over children, education and creativity

The impact of AI on young people emerged as a major concern throughout the conference.

Rev. Egbuta Ojebe of Lagos Presbyterian Church, Yaba, warned that overdependence on AI could weaken critical thinking and creativity among students.

He said many children were increasingly submitting AI-generated assignments without understanding the material themselves.

“If independent thinking dies, society loses creativity,” he warned.

Ojebe argued that AI should remain a tool rather than replace human reasoning, reading culture and authentic learning.

Similarly, Nneoma Mary, Woman Leader of Methodist Church Nigeria, expressed concern that excessive screen time and AI-driven digital engagement were weakening family relationships and reducing communication between parents and children.

She also warned that technology-driven social competition among women was damaging traditional support systems and mentorship structures within communities.

Church leaders, she said, should encourage moderation in technology use.

Global AI fears echoed in Lagos discussions

A documentary screened during the event; The Existential Threat of AI and the Need for International Cooperation, intensified debate around the future risks of advanced AI systems.

The film referenced warnings from leading AI researchers and Nobel Prize winners who argue that humanity may be underestimating the speed and scale of AI development.

Participants discussed claims that AI could trigger mass job losses, mental health crises, privacy violations and even existential threats if development continues without effective global regulation.

The summit referenced warnings attributed to AI pioneer Jeffrey Hinton, who has publicly discussed catastrophic AI risks, as well as open letters signed by more than 1,000 experts calling for pauses in advanced AI development.

Speakers criticised what they described as a gap between the rapid growth of AI capabilities and the slower pace of international regulation.

Religious leaders seek representation in Nigeria’s AI commissions

A major point of debate was Nigeria’s proposed AI governance structure.

Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi argued that religious voices were largely absent from planned AI expert groups and ethics commissions envisioned under Nigeria’s AI strategy.

He warned that ethical oversight bodies dominated only by politicians, scientists and technology companies could ignore broader social and spiritual concerns.

Participants called for bishops, Imams and faith representatives to be formally included in national AI ethics discussions.

Some also expressed fears that advanced AI systems could eventually replace aspects of religious life, including sermons, pastoral counselling and worship experiences.

The conference strongly rejected the idea that machines could replace spiritual authority or human dignity.

“Humans are created in God’s image,” one participant said during the practical sessions. “Technology should serve humanity, not replace it.”

Calls for balanced regulation instead of panic

Despite widespread concern, some speakers argued against panic-driven responses.

Elder Akaninyene Obot, National Treasurer of the Christian Council of Nigeria, said AI development was fundamentally an economic activity that required balanced government regulation rather than fear.

He argued that technology itself was not inherently dangerous if properly managed.

“Government regulates banking and insurance. It should also regulate AI development to protect communities,” he said.

Obot added that Nigeria’s young innovators were already participating in the global technology ecosystem and should not be excluded from AI advancement.

However, he stressed that economic rights and technological growth should never come at the expense of public welfare.

Human empathy and morality remain central

Several speakers returned repeatedly to the idea that AI could not replicate human empathy, vulnerability and spiritual consciousness.

Archbishop Christopher Ede, Methodist Archbishop of Enugu, stressed the importance of emotional empathy and sympathy in human relationships.

The conference also referenced discussions from a World Council of Churches webinar on AGI, which explored questions about justice, inequality, race, gender and the impact of AI on vulnerable populations.

Participants debated whether AI represented a new challenge to humanity’s understanding of itself, with some describing the technology as a potential “fourth narcissistic insult” to human uniqueness.

Faith communities, speakers argued, must therefore remain actively engaged in shaping ethical and theological responses to emerging technologies.

What happens next?

Organisers said the discussions were intended to build sustained collaboration between religious leaders, journalists, policymakers and civil society groups on AI ethics in Nigeria and Africa.

Participants called for:

stronger AI regulation,

public education campaigns,

child protection safeguards,

ethical journalism standards,

international cooperation on AI governance,

and broader inclusion of religious communities in policymaking.

The summit ended with calls for a “pro-human AI declaration” aimed at ensuring technological innovation aligns with justice, peace, truth and human dignity.

Flexmobile, a telecom brand developed by Hazon Technologies, is set to launch in Nigeria on 1 June 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

The company says it has secured commercial agreements with Airtel Nigeria and a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE), IMBIL, allowing it to operate within the country’s existing telecom infrastructure.

The rollout still depends on final tariff approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Why it matters

Nigeria’s telecom market is one of Africa’s largest, with over 200 million active subscriptions, but it is dominated by a handful of major operators.

The entry of a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) like Flexmobile could introduce more competitive pricing, niche services, and digital-first offerings—particularly for younger, tech-savvy users.

Analysts say MVNOs typically focus on underserved segments, including data-heavy consumers and small businesses.

What the company says

Dr Victor ’Gbenga Afolabi, Group CEO of Hazon Technologies, said the planned launch follows years of preparation.

“The launch follows over three years of strategic planning and partnership development.”

The company says Flexmobile will offer services designed to “enhance flexibility and expand access to telecom offerings, particularly for digitally active consumers.”

Industry reactions

Industry analysts suggest that MVNO-backed operators could reshape parts of Nigeria’s telecom sector.

They point to potential innovation in value-added services such as data bundles, content integration, and customer experience.

However, some experts caution that success will depend on pricing, network quality, and regulatory support.

Regulatory spotlight

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has in recent years opened the door to MVNO licensing as part of efforts to deepen competition and improve service delivery.

Flexmobile’s launch remains contingent on tariff approval, a key regulatory step that determines pricing structures and market positioning.

What’s next

If approved, Flexmobile is expected to begin operations in June 2026, entering a competitive field dominated by established players.

Observers will be watching closely to see whether the new entrant can gain market share and deliver on its promise of flexibility and innovation.