Nigeria is positioning its data sovereignty and artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions as a major opportunity to attract fresh investment into the country’s digital infrastructure sector. The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the government is working to turn digital policies and data protection requirements into predictable, investable demand for private capital.
Speaking during a fireside chat titled “From Policy to Investable Demand” at the Nigerian Workshop on Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Opportunity, held during ITW Data Cloud Africa 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, Inuwa said the National Cloud Infrastructure Strategy is designed to give investors clearer opportunities across cloud computing, data centres, connectivity and related digital services. He explained that the strategy goes beyond regulation by creating the market conditions needed to encourage long-term investment.
The NITDA chief also highlighted data sovereignty as an important part of Nigeria’s digital security and economic strategy. He said sensitive information, including financial records, health data and intelligence-related information, would require stronger protection within the country to reduce potential economic and geopolitical risks. At the same time, organisations could adopt hybrid cloud systems, allowing less-sensitive workloads to operate on public cloud platforms while critical data remains within locally controlled infrastructure.
Power supply, one of the major challenges facing data centres, was also addressed. Inuwa said digital infrastructure operators would not have to depend entirely on the national grid, noting that existing regulations allow businesses to explore alternatives such as renewable energy, gas-fired generation and Independent Power Purchase Agreements. He added that improved broadband connectivity through Project Link and the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative could further strengthen the foundation for local AI development and digital services.
According to Inuwa, Nigeria’s digital infrastructure opportunity extends across the entire ecosystem, including broadband networks, cloud services, data centres, subsea cables, fibre infrastructure, energy and digital skills. He urged investors to view these areas as interconnected opportunities, particularly as AI becomes increasingly relevant to sectors such as finance and healthcare. With rising demand for digital services and government policies aimed at strengthening domestic infrastructure, Nigeria is seeking to position its growing digital economy as a more attractive destination for technology and infrastructure investment.
source: leadership
