Artificial Intelligence Governance: A Comparative Study Of Emerging Regulations In The UK, US, And Nigeria

The global regulatory environment for artificial intelligence ("AI") has undergone a fundamental transformation between 2023 and 2026. We have moved decisively from a period of aspirational ethical guidelines into an era defined by enforceable statutory frameworks and intense jurisdictional competition. As of March 2026, the governance of artificial intelligence is no longer merely a technical or ethical concern but has become a central pillar of national industrial policy, economic sovereignty, and geopolitical strategy. We have passed the "move fast and break things" phase, where companies released powerful AI tools without asking for permission or worrying about specific laws.

This article examines the divergent paths taken by three pivotal jurisdictions – UK, US and Nigeria which represent the current global spectrum of oversight. The United Kingdom continues to champion a decentralized sectoral pragmatism, betting that flexibility will attract the world's most