According to Research And Markets, the Nigerian data centre market was valued at US$278 million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$671 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.82%.
As of December 2024, the combined core and shell power capacity of third-party data centres in Nigeria was approximately 65.8 MW. An additional roughly 327.8 MW is currently under construction or in the planning stages. Once these new data centres become operational over the next 4-5 years, the total power capacity is expected to increase fivefold.
The Nigerian government is actively supporting the advancement of digital infrastructure through initiatives like the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020-2030), aimed at transforming the country’s digital landscape. There has been a marked shift from on-premises data centres toward cloud and colocation facilities, a trend accelerated over the past two years due to increased digitalization. Nigerian enterprises now favour managed services over standalone colocation offerings.
Over the next two to three years, substantial investments are anticipated in Nigeria’s data centre sector, driven by the entry of multiple operators. Total investments in this market could exceed US$2.94 billion from 2025 to 2030.
Key players in Nigeria’s data centre market include Africa Data Centres, Open Access Data Centres, 21st Century Technologies, Nxtra by Airtel, Equinix (via MainOne), Digital Realty, and Rack Centre. A potential new entrant is Kasi Cloud.
Several global colocation providers are expanding into Nigeria through strategic partnerships or acquisitions. For instance, in 2022, Equinix entered Nigeria by acquiring data centre facilities from MainOne. Similarly, Digital Realty acquired Medallion Data Centres to establish a local presence.
In March 2025, Open Access Data Centres announced plans to develop a new Lagos data centre with an estimated power capacity of 24 MW, to be executed in two phases — initially 12 MW expected to be operational by 2026.
In December 2024, Huawei Technologies launched a local cloud service in Nigeria, ensuring data residency within the country. This move complies with data protection regulations and reduces latency from over 80 milliseconds to approximately 15 milliseconds for local customers.
Major telecom operators such as MTN, Airtel Africa PLC, and Globacom have launched commercial 5G services across Nigeria, further fuelling the growth of digital infrastructure in the country.
