Nigeria is seeking to turn data sovereignty and artificial intelligence (AI) into drivers of fresh private investment in digital infrastructure through its National Cloud Infrastructure Strategy.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed this during a fireside chat titled “From Policy to Investable Demand” at ITW Data Cloud Africa 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Inuwa said the strategy is designed to move beyond regulation by creating predictable demand for cloud services, data centres, broadband connectivity and other digital infrastructure, giving private investors clearer opportunities in the Nigerian market.
He said data sovereignty requirements, including the local processing of critical information such as financial and health data, could help create demand for domestic infrastructure while addressing security concerns.
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The NITDA chief also highlighted opportunities in broadband, cloud computing and AI, while pointing to alternative power arrangements, including renewable energy and independent power projects, as part of the infrastructure investment landscape.
The push comes as the Federal Government implements its National Digital Cloud Policy, which aims to attract investment into cloud and data-centre infrastructure, strengthen domestic digital capacity and position Nigeria as a regional digital services and hosting hub.
The policy identifies cloud infrastructure and AI compute capacity as areas for investment and seeks to use government demand to create more predictable conditions for private-sector infrastructure development.
Nigeria is also seeking to reduce reliance on offshore digital infrastructure as AI adoption grows, with NITDA warning that excessive dependence on foreign-controlled AI systems could create risks for the country’s digital and economic sovereignty.
Lawrence Orjime is an AI and technology writer at AIBase.ng, covering the latest developments in artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and the companies shaping the future of AI.
With a background in content strategy, SEO, and digital media, Lawrence Orjime combines technology reporting with a strong understanding of what makes information useful and easy to find online.