Nigeria has emerged as the largest investor in artificial intelligence-driven surveillance systems in Africa, accounting for more than $470 million of the $2.1 billion spent across 11 countries on smart city technologies.
This is according to a new report by the Institute of Development Studies titled “Smart City Surveillance in Africa: Mapping Chinese AI Surveillance Across 11 Countries,” released in March 2026.
Nigeria Tops Surveillance Investment
The report shows that Nigeria’s spending is primarily focused on AI-powered facial recognition systems and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technologies, positioning it as the continent’s biggest buyer of smart surveillance infrastructure.
Across the countries studied—including Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—more than 35,000 smart cameras have been deployed, with Nigeria alone accounting for about 10,000.
Other major investors include Mauritius ($456 million), Kenya ($219 million), and Zambia ($210 million), reflecting a growing continental push toward digital monitoring systems.
Chinese Firms Dominate Market
The study found that most of the surveillance infrastructure across Africa has been supplied by Chinese technology firms, often financed through soft loans from Chinese banks.
Other suppliers include countries such as South Korea, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Israel, France, Spain, Iran, and Japan—though at a much smaller scale.
Researchers noted that the actual spending on surveillance may be significantly higher, citing limited transparency and incomplete public records in several countries.
Limited Impact on Crime
Despite the scale of investment, the report found little evidence that expanded surveillance has led to a measurable reduction in crime or terrorism.
“There is little evidence that the expansion of digital surveillance reduces overall crime,” the report stated, noting that court records rarely show successful prosecutions based on surveillance footage.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
A key finding of the report is the absence of robust legal frameworks governing surveillance across the countries studied.
Researchers warned that most nations lack clear laws defining how surveillance data is collected, used, and protected, raising concerns about potential abuse and violations of fundamental rights.
The report called for stricter regulations, including court-authorised surveillance, independent oversight bodies, and transparency mechanisms to build public trust.
Questions Over Effectiveness
In Nigeria, the findings echo growing public concerns about the effectiveness of existing security technologies, including SIM registration systems and intelligence tracking tools.
Critics argue that despite these capabilities, insecurity—including kidnappings and violent attacks—remains widespread.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has previously noted that criminals are increasingly adopting unconventional methods and operating outside traditional telecom networks, complicating tracking efforts.
Balancing Security and Accountability
Analysts say Nigeria’s leadership in AI surveillance spending reflects a broader continental shift toward technology-driven security solutions.
However, they warn that without strong governance frameworks and measurable outcomes, the growing investment may struggle to deliver its intended impact.
The report ultimately underscores the need for African governments to strike a balance between leveraging advanced surveillance tools and safeguarding civil liberties in an increasingly digital age.
