The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to launch a cutting-edge data centre capable of storing up to 1.4 petabytes of data by 29 May 2024. The data centre will house critical national information, including citizens' bio-data. This announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a meeting with the National Union of Nigerian Associations in Italy (NUNAI) on 20 May 2024.

The Minister emphasised the importance of embracing technology and innovation to address modern challenges. He highlighted that integrating advanced technology would enhance efficiency and accountability across national operations. The President of NUNAI, Chief Rowland Ndukuba, expressed gratitude for the Ministry's efforts in addressing the challenges faced by Nigerians in Italy and urged continued collaborative efforts to assist stranded Nigerians.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

Nigeria is racing behind South Africa in the data centre market in Africa. A report by Reportlinker indicates that South Africa contributes over 50% of the continent's capacity, with Nigeria coming second and Kenya third. However, Nigeria's data centre market is growing, with over 11 data centres in Nigeria, largely located in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano.

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The growth of Nigeria's data centre market is attributed to its recent focus on digitisation and emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and advanced network connectivity services. Major international players have invested in the deployment of new submarine cables for broadband connectivity, including Google's Equiano mega subsea cable, which landed in Lagos in 2022.

In related news, the Republic of the Congo is building a national data centre financed by the African Development Bank. The data centre will store and process the country's digital data and citizens' information. The project includes the construction of 600 kilometres of fibre optic cable and is expected to be completed by December 2024.