TLDR: A cybersecurity expert, Professor Uche Mbanaso, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt and deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to combat terrorism and enhance parliamentary operations. This call was made during the ECOWAS Parliament’s 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, which focused on integrating AI for ethical governance and regional development.
During the ECOWAS Parliament’s 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Professor Uche Mbanaso, a distinguished Professor of Cybersecurity and Computing, strongly advocated for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology into its strategies for tackling multifaceted security challenges, including violent extremism and terrorism. The weeklong parliamentary seminar, themed ‘Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region,’ aimed to familiarize lawmakers with AI and its potential applications across critical sectors in West Africa.
Speaking on ‘AI Deployment in the Security Sector: Advancing Peace, Counterterrorism, and Public Safety,’ Professor Mbanaso highlighted that the integration of AI is poised to revolutionize regional security and safety. He stated, ‘The integration of AI deployment in the security sector is poised to transform regional security and safety, offering both opportunities and challenges for the sub-region.’ He emphasized the critical need for a unified and structured framework for AI integration, underpinned by robust ethical guidelines, to maximize benefits while mitigating risks.
While acknowledging AI’s significant potential for advancing peace, counterterrorism, and public safety, Mbanaso also cautioned against potential pitfalls. He noted that ‘its practical implementation depends on tackling issues related to accuracy, cognitive disengagement, and ethics.’ Furthermore, he pointed out growing concerns such as over-reliance on AI, which could lead to diminished creative, innovative, and critical thinking skills, as well as data privacy risks and dishonesty. He stressed the importance of a balanced approach to ensure a unified, fair, efficient, and responsible peace with AI support settings, thereby avoiding ethical and responsible application gaps.
In addition to security, AI’s role in parliamentary efficiency was also a key discussion point. Dr. Christian Odo, an Artificial Intelligence expert and Head of the ICT Unit at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja, underscored the necessity for the ECOWAS Parliament to deploy AI tools to enhance legislative efficiency, transparency, and oversight functions. He explained that AI-powered chatbots could streamline online application processes for long-term residence or migration within the ECOWAS sub-region, providing real-time information and facilitating smoother border crossing procedures. Dr. Odo further urged the parliament to utilize AI technology in its oversight functions, suggesting that these tools could effectively detect corruption, track policy implementation, and strengthen budget monitoring. He cited examples in budgetary oversight where AI systems could monitor government spending against approved budgets, establish early warning systems for financial irregularities, and predict the socio-economic impacts of policies.
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Professor Mbanaso also advocated for ECOWAS and its Member States to adopt a Uniform Artificial Intelligence Technology (UAIT) to bolster border control and mitigate security risks associated with cross-border terrorism and serious crime. This comprehensive approach aims to leverage AI’s capabilities across various domains to foster peace, security, and efficient governance within the ECOWAS region.
