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The Federal Government has announced that it will collaborate with major tech firms to create a hyperscale data centre to ensure the country’s sovereignty. This is a key part of the nation’s ‘Cloud First’ approach to data sovereignty.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), announced the plan on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. He disclosed this during the third Biennial Conference on Corporate Governance and Enterprise Development in Lagos.
He stated that the initiative will allow Nigeria to assume control of data presently held and managed by foreign tech companies. Furthermore, Abdullahi noted that NITDA is executing a “Cloud First” approach to bolster local infrastructure and skills.
He stated that we currently lack data sovereignty. “Our information resides on platforms like Google, Microsoft, and others,” he noted.
“We are collaborating with Big Tech and hyperscalers to create laws enabling us to develop large-scale data centre capabilities in Nigeria,” he mentioned. He clarified that the government’s approach includes categorising data. In doing so, the country will identify what should stay within the nation and what can be stored on public cloud services.
Also, Abdullahi stated that Nigeria has formulated the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the Standard for Artificial Intelligence Adoption. He said the country is also assessing the Ethical Standard for Implementing Artificial Intelligence. He also mentioned that the upcoming Online Harm Protection Bill will align regulations for online and offline activities.
Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
Image Credit: Global Tech Africa
Abdullahi stressed that for Nigeria to maximise the advantages of artificial intelligence, AI systems must be localized. They must be adapted to mirror the nation’s culture, values, and context. Without this, digital systems might make choices that disregard local contexts.
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He revealed that Nigeria is creating its large language models (LLMs) and establishing systems that reflect societal priorities. This includes data classification to identify what should stay within the country versus what can be stored on public cloud services.
Furthermore, Abdullahi mentioned that the government’s ‘Cloud First’ strategy aims to prioritize and scale up data centres in Nigeria. This, he stressed, will aid in developing local talent. Nigeria is being redefined as a centre for data centre and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Africa. The country wants to align with the necessity for data sovereignty with regional cooperation.
Regarding AI governance, Abdullahi noted that new technologies cannot depend only on current regulations or past structures. The government has created a framework for regulatory oversight over AI development. The country wants to establish and strengthen the application of AI before implementing formal regulations.
