CCC Symposium: AI Finds Its Place in Crisis Communication
At the National Crisis Communication Symposium in Abuja, PRNigeria publisher Yushau A. Shuaib presented fresh data on how AI is being used in Nigeria's security, emergency, and public information systems. The study, endorsed by the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) and supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), gives PR and communications leaders a clear picture: adoption is growing, results are improving, but strategy still lags.
The research combined a survey of 182 crisis communication professionals with interviews of senior experts. Most respondents were experienced officers with 11+ years in service across security agencies, emergency services, and both public and private institutions.
Key data from the field
- 75.8% are familiar with AI applications; 54.9% say their organisations already use AI during emergencies.
- Top uses: public information dissemination (50%), social media monitoring (40.7%), emergency coordination (31.3%), early warning systems (25.3%), risk assessment (24.7%).
- Most-used platforms: ChatGPT (75.3%), followed by Meta AI and Google Gemini.
- Everyday comms tasks supported: brainstorming, press release drafting, report summaries, and social content.
Speed, trust, and quality
- 80% say AI improves message clarity. Overall satisfaction with responsiveness is 80.2%.
- 65.9% report faster communication and 58.8% value 24/7 availability.
- Trust is mixed: 51%+ still prefer human updates over AI-generated alerts.
- Yet 63.2% believe AI already beats traditional methods in high-pressure moments.
What teams are doing vs. what's missing
Adoption is strongest in content creation and monitoring. Predictive analytics, early risk detection, and structured decision support remain underused. That gap limits proactive response and verification at scale.
Barriers are clear: digital literacy, affordability, and infrastructure. 33.5% flagged accessibility challenges. Without training and better tools, usage stays tactical instead of strategic.
Practical moves for PR and communications leaders
- Build an AI playbook: channels, tools, approval flows, and crisis thresholds. Keep it short and rehearsed.
- Pair speed with verification: require human-in-the-loop checks for alerts, casualty figures, and sensitive claims.
- Stand up monitoring and early-warning pipelines: social listening, geospatial signals, and escalation rules.
- Standardise prompts and templates for releases, FAQs, CAP alerts, and situation reports.
- Measure what matters: time-to-first-statement, correction rate, reach, sentiment, and misinformation takedown speed.
- Train spokespeople and duty officers on AI use, bias, and red-teaming. Practice with live simulations.
- Segment risk: what AI can draft vs. what must be authored or approved by humans.
- Protect data: align workflows with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) requirements; log prompts and outputs for audit.
Policy signals you should track
NITDA Director General Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi called for an AI-driven task force to counter misinformation during crises and elections. He stressed regulation of big tech, platform accountability, and independent crisis management centres tailored to local realities. Related efforts include the Nigerian Data Protection Commission and the proposed Online Harm Protection Bill.
For context on standards and national guidance, monitor NITDA and NDPC updates. Policy is moving, and compliance will sit with comms leads as much as with IT.
Who was in the room
CCC Chairman Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade (Rtd.) framed crisis communication as a national security asset requiring technology-enabled early warning, verified messaging, and stronger inter-agency coordination. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi (represented by Jibrin Ndace), urged ethical use of social media and AI. Panel voices included Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan (APRA), Musikilu Mojeed (Premium Times), a representative of NDPC CEO Dr. Vincent Olatunji, and ACC Abdullahi Maiwada of the Nigeria Customs Service.
What's next
Shuaib noted that AI is already reshaping public messaging and real-time monitoring, but its full potential depends on training, infrastructure, and tight human-AI teamwork. The full research project will be formally unveiled at the next National Spokespersons Awards in Abuja in 2026.
If your team is moving from pilot use to playbook-level adoption, build skills now. See practical, role-based learning paths here: AI training paths by job role.
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