Nigerian telco Airtel is building a data center in Lagos to begin AI model training
The company aims to tap into Nigeria's growing appetite for AI, cloud computing, and high-speed connectivity.
Artificial intelligence investments are picking up serious steam in Nigeria. Over the past year, we’ve seen a wave of projects aimed at building the infrastructure needed to train, deploy, and scale AI models locally, something the country’s 2024 draft National AI Strategy flagged as a critical gap.
While AI software tends to grab the headlines, it’s the heavy-duty computing power behind the scenes that makes it possible. And that’s where Nigeria is now catching up.
The latest example comes from Airtel Nigeria, which is pouring more than $120 million into building a 38-megawatt hyperscale data centre in Eko Atlantic, Lagos. Currently under construction and expected to go live in 2026, the facility has already received its first batch of high-performance GPUs, hardware designed specifically for AI model training and deployment.
Airtel says this isn’t just another cloud facility; it’s being purpose-built to handle the massive computing loads AI requires.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
Eko Atlantic was a deliberate choice for Airtel’s “Nxtra” data centre. The company cited the city’s reliable power supply, advanced infrastructure, and secure environment as key reasons for setting up shop there. These advantages make it a natural fit for a facility that’s meant to serve both large enterprises and small businesses while laying the foundation for Nigeria’s broader digital economy. Right now, the country has just 16 operational data centres, a far cry from South Africa and Kenya’s combined 75, so this build is a major step forward.
Airtel’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, made it clear that the main driver for the project is AI capacity, with cloud storage as a secondary offering. This approach marks a notable difference from rival MTN Nigeria, which has been pushing a more cloud-first strategy. Airtel has also been doubling down on other network investments, rolling out 5G sites, installing high-capacity radios, and expanding its fibre footprint to boost connectivity nationwide.
And Airtel isn’t alone in making these kinds of moves. Just weeks ago, MTN Nigeria unveiled what it calls the largest prefabricated commercial data centre in West Africa, a $255 million project aimed at supporting cloud services and enterprise clients. The race to build modern digital infrastructure is clearly on, with each player betting that Nigeria’s growing appetite for AI, cloud computing, and high-speed connectivity will justify the massive outlays.
If the trend continues, Nigeria’s AI ambitions could soon have the local muscle, both in hardware and expertise, to match the hype. And that might just turn the country into one of Africa’s most capable AI hubs.
