The push to build Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities in Nigeria has hit a critical barrier; the country currently lacks any data centre built to support AI workloads. That is the clear warning from Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Realty Nigeria. At a recent session organised by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), he disclosed that even though cloud services run in the country, traditional data-hosting infrastructures are not designed for the heavy demands of AI computing.
Nnamani emphasised the gap between where Nigeria is today and where it needs to be to meaningfully adopt and scale AI locally. While there are over 300 AI-related firms in Nigeria using AI services, many are outsourcing hosting to foreign facilities; none of the domestic data centres can support the core AI infrastructure.
In his words, “the question is what is the plan to build AI-enabled data centres, and who has the technology and finance to do so.” Without urgent investment in purpose-built data infrastructure, he warned, Nigeria risks falling further behind as the global AI revolution accelerates.
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Why existing data centres cannot support AI
According to Nnamani and industry observers, data centres in Nigeria were originally constructed to support enterprise services, hosting cloud applications or standard web services, not AI workloads.
AI training and inference, especially for modern, GPU-intensive models, require vastly higher power densities, sophisticated cooling (often liquid cooling), robust power supply, and advanced networking. These are infrastructure traits that existing data halls were not built to sustain.
In contrast, data centre operators targeting AI workloads must design from day one for high-density, high-performance computing. That means rethinking power, cooling, and building architecture, something not yet seen at scale in Nigeria.
One concrete example: firms like Rack Centre have recently introduced 12-megawatt (MW) hyperscale data centres they claim are “AI-ready.” But even with these new builds, experts say the country remains far from where it needs to be to fully enable domestic AI infrastructure.
What this means for Nigeria’s AI ambitions and data sovereignty
The absence of AI-ready infrastructure has serious implications for Nigeria’s digital future. Without local capacity, AI startups and companies building AI-driven products are forced to host and run workloads abroad — increasing costs, latency, and eroding control over data.
This dynamic undermines data sovereignty and limits Nigeria’s ability to truly localise AI development. For a country with over 200 million people and a sizeable developer community, being forced to depend on foreign hosting could inhibit innovation, slow down adoption, and leave critical data and digital services outside national jurisdiction.
Moreover, the imbalance in infrastructure development, with over 90% of data centre capacity concentrated in one city, further compounds digital inequality.
Nnamani has previously estimated that Nigeria needs at least 72 edge data centres — ideally two in each state capital — to support a truly inclusive digital economy.
Without such decentralised infrastructure, remote states and regions risk being left behind, unable to benefit from cloud, AI, or digital services at the same speed as major urban areas.
What needs to happen to change the trajectory
Industry leaders and infrastructure experts are calling for a coordinated push to build AI-capable data centres across Nigeria.
First, new builds must be designed specifically for AI — with support for high rack densities, liquid cooling systems, redundant power supply, and robust connectivity.
Second, decentralisation is critical. Building more data centres outside the major hubs will ensure equitable access, reduce latency, and support growth in all parts of the country. The target of 72 edge data centres remains a benchmark many believe should be pursued.
Third, investors, both public and private, must recognise that data centre development is a long-term, capital-intensive commitment. As Nnamani recently pointed out, building and powering a modern data centre often requires upfront capital and patience before returns.
Finally, policies supporting data sovereignty and regulation that encourage infrastructure investment can provide a stable environment for growth. Given soaring demand for AI across industries, banking, health, telecoms, and more, there is a clear incentive to act now.
The road ahead: catching up or falling further behind
Nigeria currently stands at a crossroads in its digital journey. On one side lies a promising future where AI and data services are built and hosted locally, supporting startups, innovation, and digital sovereignty. On the other side lies the risk of continued dependence on foreign infrastructure, with all the financial, latency, and sovereignty drawbacks that entail.
As Engr. Nnamani cautioned, until data centres are built with AI in mind, Nigeria will remain reliant on overseas hosting for AI workloads. That cannot continue if the country truly wants to harness the full potential of its tech sector and digital economy.
In the coming years, success will depend on collaboration between infrastructure providers, investors, policymakers, and Nigeria’s growing community of developers and startups. If those stakeholders act decisively, the nation could yet build the backbone it needs — but delay too long, and the gap may only widen.
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