Nigeria affirms $750m investments in cloud and data infrastructure, push for AI sovereignty

*The Nigerian Government confirms the newly unveiled National Digital Cloud Policy targets an ambitious $750 million in private investment in cloud and data infrastructure, to position the country as a competitive location for cloud services across Africa’s digital ecosystem

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

In a decisive move to position Nigeria as a “competitive location” for cloud and data services in Africa, the Federal Government has said the newly-unveiled National Digital Cloud Policy targets ambitious $750 million in private investment within 24 months.

ConsumerConnect reports the government said the Digital Cloud Policy would position as a competitive destination to enjoy cloud and data services for local consumers, as well as the wider West African and African markets.

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The Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Technology (FMCIDE) oficially launched the policy document August 17 this year. 

This policy replaces the older 2019 framework, as it shifts Nigeria from just deploying using cloud services to building its own local cloud and data infrastructure.

The government subsequently, unveiled the plans to target $750 million in private sector investment for local cloud and data infrastructure together with the rollout of a nationwide 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), noted this in his presentation Monday at the Gulf Information Technology and Exhibition (GITEX) 2026 Edition on Government Leadership and AI Summit, held in Abuja, FCT.

The theme of this year’s event is: “Beyond Connectivity: The Bridge to Sovereign AI and Innovation”.

Objectives of investment in cloud, data infrastructure and 90,000km fibre optics

Akume, represented by Bekearedebo Warrens, Permanent Secretary of the Political and Economic Affairs Office, emphasised that the high-impact digital initiatives form part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s strategy to fast-track Nigeria’s transition from a technology consumer to a global exporter of digital solutions across the African continent.

“The newly unveiled National Digital Cloud Policy targets an ambitious $750 million in private investment in Nigeria’s cloud and data infrastructure within 24 months.

“This policy will position Nigeria as a competitive location for cloud and data services, not just for ourselves, but for the wider West African and African markets,” stated he.

The SGF asserted: “GITEX Nigeria returns at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history.

“The theme for this year’s conference, ‘Beyond Connectivity: The Bridge to Sovereign AI and Innovation,’ captures the very essence of where Nigeria is headed—not merely as a consumer of technology, but as a builder, producer, and exporter of digital solutions and artificial intelligence.”

Update on Broadband infrastructure, last-mile connectivity

In regard to the current investment in the national Broadband coverage and last-mile connectivity, Senator Akume disclosed that the government is undertaking one of the most ambitious digital infrastructure projects in the country’s history.

He also explained: “Under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, we are set to commence the rollout of a 90,000 km fibre optic network that will reach every state, local government, and ward in the country.

“This is complemented by the deployment of approximately 3,700 telecommunications towers to connect over 20 million Nigerians in underserved communities.”

On 3MTT and legal frameworks for digital sovereignty

Speaking on policy, human capacity, and legal reforms in the Nigerian economy, Akume further highlighted the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative and recent legal frameworks designed to guarantee data sovereignty in the country’s digital ecosystem.

The SGF said: “President Tinubu’s swift assent to the NIMC Act 2026 has transformed the National Identity Management Commission from a data-based management agency into Nigeria’s foundational digital authority.

“This new law provides a robust legal framework for identity management, reinforcing our pursuit of data sovereignty.

“Since its inception, the 3MTT programme has recorded 1.87 million registrations across all 774 Local Government Areas, with over 125,000 Nigerians trained in cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering.”

As regards the overarching objective of these investments in digital initiatives, Akume declared that the country is “building a generation equipped to transform us from a nation of consumers to a nation of creators.”

He equally hinted at the government’s commitment to supporting Galaxy Backbone Limited, as the main operational agency tasked with driving Federal telecommunications and protection of national digital assets in Nigeria.

The SGF, therefore, urged both private, local and global investors, innovators, and other industry stakeholders at GITEX 2026 to form concrete partnerships to help Africa in capturing its projected $1 trillion AI-driven market by 2035.

NITDA’s Inuwa speaks on tech independence

In his remarks on the occasion, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) highlighted the Nigerian Government’s stance on technological independence.

Inuwa emphasised the urgent need for the country to achieve sovereign control over its Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem.

He also warned against over-reliance on foreign-developed algorithms, describing AI as “critical national infrastructure” rather than a mere technological tool in the Nigerian digital space.

The NITDA Chief further stated: “To me, AI is not just another piece of technology.

“It is a strategic infrastructure that can help nations accelerate growth.”

The Director-General said: “A tool that can help us build intelligence about our economy, our citizens, our security, our everything is not something we can play with.

“So, we need to start thinking about how we can put the AI we are building under our sovereign control.”

He added: “We cannot rely on AI built in other jurisdictions; we need to own our own AI.

“We used to say AI is biased, but AI is not biased—it is the data we train the AI with that is biased.

“So, if we really need an AI that will serve us, we need to train the AI with our data.”