The Federal Government has planned to collaborate with Big Tech firms to establish hyperscale data centers in Nigeria, securing data sovereignty and boosting infrastructure.
NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed this in Lagos at the 3rd Biennial Corporate Governance and Enterprise Development Conference.
He said the move will ensure Nigeria takes control of data currently stored by foreign companies, adding that the agency has adopted a Cloud First strategy.
“Today we don’t have data sovereignty; our data is on social media, Google, Microsoft and others, and they decide what we see, what we believe, and what we buy,” Abdullahi said.
He added that new laws and policies are being developed to support the establishment of hyperscale data centers in the country.
The plan involves classifying data to determine what must remain in Nigeria and what can be hosted on global public cloud platforms.
Abdullahi highlighted that Nigeria has already developed a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, adoption standards, and is testing ethical AI deployment frameworks.
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He also noted that the forthcoming Online Harm Protection Bill will align online and offline regulations for safer digital spaces.
On artificial intelligence, Abdullahi stressed that systems must be retrained to reflect Nigeria’s culture, values, and realities to avoid bias in decision-making.
He disclosed that Nigeria is developing its own large language models and building systems aligned with local and regional needs.
The Cloud First strategy, he explained, will not only attract hyperscalers but also help grow local ICT talent and infrastructure.
NITDA is also pushing to position Nigeria as a hub for data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Africa.
Abdullahi stated that emerging technologies require new regulatory frameworks, and that Nigeria has built a regulatory intelligence system to guide AI adoption.
Beyond AI and data sovereignty, NITDA is pursuing a project to establish at least 1,600 ICT centers across the country.
So far, the agency has completed 222 ICT hubs, community centers, and school facilities in two years, with plans to expand nationwide.
The initiative aims to ensure digital inclusion for all Nigerians, regardless of social or economic status, while strengthening the nation’s tech ecosystem.
