ALGORITHMIC GOVERNANCE AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN NIGERIA: RECONCILING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITH RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND DEMOCRATIC ACOUNTABILITY

Abstract

The increasing deployment of artificial intelligence in governance and commercial decision-making processes presents significant constitutional challenges, particularly within pluralistic societies such as Nigeria. This article examines the implications of algorithmic governance for fundamental rights under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), with specific focus on the rights to privacy, freedom of religion, and protection from discrimination. The study argues that existing regulatory frameworks, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, are insufficient to address the broader constitutional risks posed by automated decision-making systems. It introduces the concept of algorithmic orthodoxy to explain how seemingly neutral computational models may embed normative assumptions that conflict with Nigeria‘s socio-religious realities. To address this gap, the article proposes a novel regulatory framework-Value-Based Algorithmic Impact Assessment (VBAIA), which integrates constitutional values, socio-cultural context, and accountability mechanisms into the design and deployment of artificial intelligence systems. Drawing on Nigerian constitutional jurisprudence and comparative international approaches, the article demonstrates the need for a context-sensitive model of algorithmic governance. The article concludes that effective regulation of artificial intelligence in Nigeria requires not only legislative reform but also active judicial oversight and a deliberate effort to align technological innovation with the normative foundations of the constitutional order