Is Nigeria Ready for Its First AI Data Centre by 2026?

Nigeria’s Data Centre Expansion Is Accelerating

Nigeria’s ambition to compete in the global digital economy is increasingly tied to one critical piece of infrastructure: data centres. As artificial intelligence drives heavier computing workloads, the conversation is shifting from whether Nigeria will build more facilities to whether those facilities can truly support AI at scale.

The country currently has 17 operational data centres, with at least nine more under construction or advanced planning. Projects like Equinix’s LG3 facility in Lagos, expected to launch in early 2026, highlight Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing data infrastructure markets. Installed capacity today ranges between 65 and 86 megawatts, with projections pointing to over 400 megawatts within five years.

Investor confidence is rising alongside demand. Nigeria’s data centre market, valued at $1.4 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $2.7 billion by 2035, driven by cloud adoption, fintech growth, e-commerce, and the emergence of AI workloads.

Why AI Workloads Demand a New Kind of Infrastructure

AI changes the rules entirely. Traditional data centres are built for modest rack densities, while AI systems, especially GPU clusters and large language models, require significantly more power, advanced cooling, and highly resilient networks.

This is where AI-focused data centres come in. One of the clearest signals of progress is Kasi Cloud’s LOS1 campus in Lekki, a $250 million hyperscale facility designed to support extreme AI workloads. With power capacity scaling up to 100 megawatts and rack densities reaching 100 kilowatts per rack, the facility is positioned to handle modern AI compute demands.

Other major players, including Airtel, MTN, Open Access Data Centres, and Equinix, are also committing long-term capital to Nigeria, with several AI-ready or AI-first facilities expected to go live between 2025 and 2026.
 

So, Is Nigeria Ready by 2026?

Challenges remain particularly around power reliability, imported hardware, and long build timelines. But momentum is undeniable. Nigeria may not become a hyperscale AI hub overnight, yet at least one truly AI-focused data centre is likely to be operational by late 2026.

For Nigeria’s growing AI ecosystem, that milestone could mark the beginning of a new chapter.