Airtel to Build Nigeria’s Largest 38MW Data Centre in Eko Atlantic to Power Cloud and AI Boom

Airtel Nigeria has announced plans to construct a 38-megawatt hyperscale data centre in Lagos, marking what will become the largest data centre in the country. The facility is set to be developed in Eko Atlantic City, a premium coastal development built on reclaimed land. The centre will serve hyperscale cloud providers, large enterprises, and small businesses, and is positioned as a response to Nigeria’s fast-growing demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services.

The telecom operator, which boasts over 50 million subscribers, did not reveal how much the project will cost or when it will be completed. However, it confirmed that major development work will begin in 2026. CEO Dinesh Balsingh emphasized the significance of the project, highlighting the role of data centres in enabling future technologies beyond cloud computing — especially AI infrastructure.

Airtel’s move is part of a larger infrastructure expansion strategy under Airtel Africa, reflecting a regional push toward building scalable digital ecosystems. The data centre will join a rising number of major digital infrastructure investments in Nigeria, where global and regional players like Equinix, Africa Data Centres, Rack Centre, and MTN are deepening their footprints.

The decision to build in Eko Atlantic was driven by considerations such as security and access to stable power, according to Airtel Nigeria’s Director of Business, Ogo Ofomata. She explained that the facility is being designed with advanced features such as high-performance 6-kilowatt server racks and GPU-powered infrastructure suitable for AI workloads — indicating a serious commitment to next-generation computing.

Nigeria’s data centre market is on a rapid growth trajectory. Industry estimates project total capacity to nearly double from 136.7MW in 2025 to 279.4MW by 2030. With the market expected to hit $671 million in value by the end of the decade, analysts predict that Nigeria will become Africa’s second-largest data centre hub, trailing only South Africa.