The Federal Government has set a target of attracting $750 million in private investment into Nigeria’s cloud and data infrastructure within the next two years as it moves to expand the country’s digital infrastructure. The government also plans to commence the rollout of a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network expected to connect all states, local government areas and wards across the country.
George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, disclosed this on Monday at the GITEX 2026 Government Leadership & AI Summit in Abuja. Akume, who was represented at the event by Bekearedebo Warrens, the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, said the initiatives were part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reposition Nigeria as a producer and exporter of digital technology rather than a consumer.
He said the newly unveiled National Digital Cloud Policy was designed to attract significant private capital into the sector while positioning Nigeria as a hub for cloud and data services in Africa. “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,” he said. Akume said the return of GITEX Nigeria was coming at a critical point in the country’s technological development, with the conference theme, ‘Beyond Connectivity: The Bridge to Sovereign AI and Innovation,’ reflecting the government’s ambition for Nigeria to develop its own digital capabilities.
“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,