Nigeria is taking bold steps toward enhancing its digital infrastructure by forging strategic partnerships with leading global technology firms to establish hyperscale data centres across the country. This was disclosed by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, during a recent briefing on the agency’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the NITDA boss, discussions are already underway with several prominent players in the global tech ecosystem, often referred to as ‘Big Tech’, with the aim of building state-of-the-art data centres that will not only boost Nigeria’s data sovereignty but also catalyse economic growth through improved digital services. He noted that these hyperscale facilities, once completed, will significantly enhance the country’s cloud computing capacity, promote digital innovation, and attract foreign direct investment.
Hyperscale data centres are high-capacity, enterprise-grade facilities designed to support robust computing and data storage operations at scale. They are crucial for supporting cloud-based services, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the digital economy, key pillars in Nigeria’s drive towards a knowledge-based society.
Abdullahi emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader goals under the Nigeria Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), which seeks to position the country as a regional technology hub by 2030. He stressed that the establishment of such infrastructure would also address longstanding concerns about data localisation and cybersecurity by ensuring critical national data is stored within sovereign borders.
In addition, the NITDA DG highlighted that the collaboration with tech giants would bring about skills transfer, capacity building, and job creation, particularly for Nigerian youth in the areas of cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and data management. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment through policy reforms, regulatory support, and public-private partnerships to facilitate the seamless implementation of the project.
The announcement marks another milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, signaling a strong intent to modernise its ICT landscape and compete globally in the fast-evolving digital economy. As the country continues to embrace emerging technologies, the success of this hyperscale data centre initiative is expected to serve as a foundational pillar for digital inclusion, improved service delivery, and technological resilience.
