The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has set up a Technical Working Group (TWG) to drive the expansion of Nigeria’s cloud infrastructure. This effort is designed to strengthen local cloud services, attract large-scale tech investments, and establish Nigeria as a key digital powerhouse in Africa.
NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, emphasized the importance of data accuracy and regulatory frameworks in driving digital transformation. He noted that without a solid foundation, Nigeria cannot achieve true digital sovereignty. Inuwa pointed out a significant challenge—Africa accounts for nearly 19% of the global population yet hosts less than 1% of the world’s data centers, making investment attraction difficult due to limited insights into existing infrastructure.
To address this, NITDA has commissioned research to assess Nigeria’s digital landscape. The findings highlight the need for stronger regulations, investment incentives, and public-private collaboration. As a result, the agency has engaged global consultants to refine its cloud development strategies.
Regulatory support is also a key focus. Barrister Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, underscored the necessity of clear policies to securely host and manage Nigeria’s data. He stressed that building a robust digital economy requires not only strong legal frameworks but also capacity building through top-tier training and expertise development.
The TWG will play a crucial role in shaping policies, promoting data accuracy, and fostering compliance with cloud regulations. Industry giants including Google, AWS, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, HUAWEI Cloud, Equinix, Kasi, Rack Centre, and Africa Data Centres—along with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission—have pledged support for the initiative.
With collective efforts from industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, Nigeria aims to emerge as a top digital hub for West and Central Africa, driving innovation and investment in the technology sector.