Govt partners tech giants on cloud infrastructure
The Nigerian government is collaborating with global technology giants to enhance the country’s cloud infrastructure and attract hyperscale investments, the National Information Technology Development Agency has said.
The collaboration is part of the newly inaugurated Technical Working Group on National Cloud Infrastructure, which also includes Google, AWS, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Huawei Cloud, Equinix, Kasi, Rack Centre, and Africa Data Centres, alongside several other data centre operators and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
Tasked with advancing Nigeria’s cloud ecosystem, the group will develop strategies to enhance data accuracy, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and create investment incentives.
The country’s technology agency said in a statement on Sunday that the group will also propose measures to foster policy compliance and promote the use of accurate data, ensuring Nigeria’s cloud infrastructure aligns with global standards.
“Without this foundation, we cannot achieve true digital sovereignty,” NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said at the inauguration.
“Our goal is to build an ecosystem where both local data centre providers can scale, and global hyperscalers see Nigeria as a viable investment destination.”
Inuwa highlighted the lack of accurate data on Nigeria’s IT infrastructure as a major challenge. “Africa accounts for nearly 19 per cent of the world’s population but hosts less than one per cent of global data centres,” he said.
“Without clear data on our infrastructure, attracting investment becomes difficult.
To address this, NITDA has commissioned research to assess Nigeria’s digital landscape, identifying the need for regulatory reforms, clearer investment incentives, and stronger public-private collaboration,” he added.
The agency has also engaged global consultants to refine strategies for cloud development.
NITDA urged industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to actively participate in shaping Nigeria’s cloud infrastructure. “With collective effort, Nigeria can emerge as the premier digital hub for West and Central Africa,” Inuwa said.
While corroborating the Director-General’s point of view, Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, underscored the importance of regulatory intervention in fostering a robust digital economy.
“Our objective is to establish policies and legal frameworks that support cloud development, enabling us to securely host and manage our data. This is crucial for the growth of our digital economy, he said.”
He also highlighted the necessity of capacity building, stating that, “Equipping ourselves with top-tier training and expertise is essential to fully leverage digital technologies.”
Edet urged all stakeholders to actively participate in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
“Collaboratively, we must develop a framework that reflects our national interests, and it should be widely accepted. This effort will define Nigeria’s role in the global digital arena, he observed.
