Nigeria’s drive to become a global player in artificial intelligence (AI) is under threat due to significant gaps in local digital infrastructure, industry experts have warned. Despite a surge of over 300 AI startups in the country, none of the nation’s data centres are equipped to handle the high-density, GPU-intensive workloads modern AI requires. Without this foundation, homegrown innovation is being forced offshore.
Ikechukwu Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty Nigeria, told members of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in Lagos that existing data centres were designed for traditional enterprise operations, not AI’s complex computing demands. “Local AI companies are creating solutions, but they are hosting abroad because the infrastructure here cannot support the kind of computing AI requires,” he explained.
The infrastructure deficit extends beyond technology to basic utilities. Nnamani revealed that building an AI-ready data centre in Nigeria requires dedicated roads, power lines, and massive investment, noting that the scale of facilities needed for AI far exceeds anything currently available. “One of Teraco’s data centres in South Africa is bigger than all data centres in Nigeria combined,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of large-scale investment.
Power remains a critical barrier, with the cost of self-generated electricity for a 100-megawatt data centre reaching $100 million. Without reliable local energy and cutting-edge facilities, Nigeria risks deepening dependence on foreign providers, jeopardizing data sovereignty and limiting the nation’s ability to capture value from its own AI innovations.
Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, Managing Director of the Anambra State ICT Agency, stressed that Nigeria cannot claim AI leadership while relying on external infrastructure. Highlighting Anambra’s cloud-first policy and successful local AI initiatives like Optimus AI, he argued that talent exists but must be supported by investment in infrastructure. “Technology is moving fast. If Nigeria must play in the future, we must invest in our people, our infrastructure, and our digital sovereignty,” he said.
source: The sun