Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s growing dependence on offshore data hosting, warning that the trend poses serious threats to national sovereignty, digital security, and economic growth.
NDPC
National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, disclosed that over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s data is currently hosted outside the country, describing the development as a major vulnerability in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
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Olatunji spoke while delivering a keynote address at the IoT West Africa Conference held in Lagos, where stakeholders from government, technology, and business sectors gathered to discuss emerging trends in digital transformation, cloud infrastructure, and smart technologies.
He said Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign data infrastructure undermines the country’s control over its digital assets and raises concerns around data sovereignty, national security, and the loss of economic value that could otherwise be retained locally.
According to him, as Nigeria deepens digital adoption across sectors, data centres have become critical national infrastructure that must be prioritised to secure the country’s digital future.
“Over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s data is hosted abroad, which is precarious for our sovereignty as a nation. There is an urgent need to invest in local infrastructure that will ensure our data remains within our jurisdiction and under our regulatory oversight,” he said.
Olatunji highlighted the growing importance of compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, noting that robust data governance and privacy frameworks are central to building trust in the digital economy.
He said the Act establishes clear regulatory expectations for data controllers and processors, while also creating opportunities for businesses that align with global privacy standards.
The NDPC boss noted that beyond security concerns, strengthening local data hosting capacity would unlock economic opportunities, reduce operational costs for businesses, and position Nigeria as a stronger player in Africa’s digital economy.
He said Nigeria’s data centre market is projected to reach 1.9 billion dollars by 2031, making the sector a strategic investment destination for both local and international players.
Also speaking at the conference, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, said policy is increasingly emerging as the key driver of Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.
Represented by Dr Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnership, Inuwa spoke during a panel session themed: “The Lagos-Abuja Digital Corridor: Building Africa’s Next Data Centre and Cloud Hub.”
He explained that while infrastructure naturally follows demand, deliberate policy interventions are necessary to create the enabling environment for sustainable digital growth.
According to him, Nigeria’s broadband policy, which prescribes minimum internet speeds of 10 Mbps in rural areas and 25 Mbps in urban centres, provides a strategic framework for infrastructure expansion along the Lagos-Abuja digital corridor.
He, however, stressed that policy alone cannot drive digital transformation without active collaboration among government institutions, private sector operators, and civil society groups.
“Collaboration is the pathway that massifies impact, while partnership harnesses collective intelligence. No one can achieve this in isolation,” he said.
Inuwa also highlighted the Nigerian Sovereign Cloud Project, describing it as a flagship initiative designed to strengthen indigenous cloud service providers and reduce the dominance of foreign hyperscale operators in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure landscape.
He said the initiative aims to scale local cloud infrastructure to global standards, domesticate data hosting, lower operational costs, and improve nationwide access to secure cloud services.
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According to him, the project aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to enhance digital sovereignty while building a resilient and inclusive digital economy.
Industry stakeholders at the event agreed that expanding local data infrastructure remains critical to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leading digital hub in Africa, especially amid rising demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence, and enterprise data solutions.
The IoT West Africa Conference is regarded as one of the continent’s leading platforms for discussions on Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, cloud computing, smart cities, and digital innovation.
