‘At 2am, it feels like someone’s there’: why Nigerians are choosing chatbots to give them advice and therapy

Young adults across Nigeria, including 23-year-old Joy Adeboye in Abuja, are increasingly turning to AI-driven chatbots for mental health support and crisis counseling this year due to the severe shortage and high cost of traditional therapy services in the country. Faced with immediate trauma, such as stalking or domestic distress, many Nigerians find that these digital tools provide a 24/7 lifeline that human professionals cannot match in speed or affordability. The trend reflects a growing reliance on technology to fill a critical vacuum in a healthcare system where professional psychiatric care remains a luxury for the few. The case of Joy Adeboye highlights the immediate utility of these chatbots; when confronted with an abusive message from a stalker late at night, she turned to an AI platform to manage her panic and seek advice on personal safety. For many in Nigeria, the stigma surrounding mental health issues often prevents them from seeking help in their physical communities. Chatbots offer a layer of anonymity and perceived safety, allowing users to express vulnerabilities without the fear of social judgment or the financial burden of sessions that can cost more than a minimum wage worker's monthly salary. However, the rapid adoption of AI therapy in the region has prompted urgent calls for tighter regulation from mental health experts and digital rights advocates. While chatbots can offer coping mechanisms and empathetic-sounding responses, they lack the legal accountability and medical deep-seated understanding required to handle severe clinical depression or high-risk suicidal ideation. Critics warn that without a formal framework to govern these Nigerian digital health interactions, users may be vulnerable to data privacy breaches or receive medical advice that has not been properly vetted by local health authorities.