A Lagos-based technology startup, Grace AI Labs, is expanding its focus beyond customer service automation to explore how autonomous intelligence systems can help tackle Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
Recent data highlights the scale of the crisis. In the first half of 2025, at least 2,266 Nigerians were killed by bandits and insurgents, surpassing the total recorded in 2024. Between July 2024 and June 2025, 4,722 kidnapping victims were documented across 997 incidents, with ransom demands exceeding $31 million.
Projections also indicate that nearly 35 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season.
These figures underscore the broader impact of insecurity on daily life, affecting travel, education, agriculture, and business operations across the country.
Founded by Divine Matthew, Grace AI Labs has built its reputation deploying autonomous intelligent workers, goal-oriented systems capable of executing tasks, making decisions, and managing workflows without human intervention.
The company’s technology is already being used in sectors such as hospitality, where businesses in Lagos deploy AI-driven systems to manage customer orders with reduced errors and faster response times.
The firm is also in discussions with major banks, telecom operators, insurers, and government institutions, with increased momentum following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s March 2026 directive on AI-powered anti-money laundering systems.
However, Matthew says the company’s long-term vision extends far beyond enterprise automation.
He argues that Nigeria’s insecurity is largely a systems failure, driven by poor information flow, delayed threat detection, weak coordination among agencies, and limited communication channels between citizens and authorities.
According to him, the same architecture used to resolve banking disputes in minutes could be adapted to security systems, enabling real-time reporting, intelligent routing of incidents, and coordinated multi-agency responses.
Grace AI Labs is exploring applications such as citizen safety reporting platforms that allow individuals to report threats via messaging platforms in local languages, with automated classification, routing, and real-time feedback.
Other proposed solutions include threat pattern intelligence systems capable of detecting emerging risks across regions, as well as tools to improve coordination between security agencies through seamless information sharing.
The company is also examining how autonomous systems could optimise emergency response by identifying the nearest available units, mapping fastest routes, and providing responders with real-time situational briefings.
Industry observers note that while technology alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s security challenges, such systems could significantly enhance response times, improve coordination, and strengthen early warning capabilities.
With a leadership team that includes Chairman Dan Walkovitz and other experienced technology professionals, Grace AI Labs says it is positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and national development.
As the company moves to apply its existing technology to public safety, its efforts signal a growing role for innovation in addressing one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.
For more information on AI workers for your business, visit the grace ai lab website graceagent.co or follow their updates on African Tech Journal.
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