The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has warned Nigerians and organisations against entering sensitive, confidential or personal information into publicly available artificial intelligence platforms, amid growing reliance on generative AI for work and business activities.
The agency said users of platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot could unknowingly expose confidential information when they submit internal documents, personal data, financial details or other restricted materials for processing. Such practices, it warned, could create serious data protection and cybersecurity risks.
NITDA noted that the rapid adoption of generative AI has created new challenges for organisations seeking to balance technological innovation with information security. It therefore urged institutions to establish clear policies governing the use of AI tools and ensure that employees understand what information can safely be shared with external platforms.
The warning highlights a growing technology challenge as Nigeria embraces AI across government, business, education and other sectors. While AI tools can improve productivity and access to information, NITDA’s position reinforces the need for responsible adoption, stronger data governance and greater public awareness of the risks associated with indiscriminate use of AI.