Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended MTN Nigeria for the launch of the country’s largest data centre, describing it as a bold step towards cementing Nigeria’s position as the digital backbone of West Africa.
9am News report that the Dabengwa Data Centre, a $150 million state-of-the-art facility launched in collaboration with Dell Technologies, is designed to transform enterprise IT infrastructure and cloud services across the region.
Representing the Governor at the inauguration, Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the strategic investment would empower young tech talent, local developers, startups, and data creators to scale globally while building from Nigeria.
“With this facility, MTN is reinforcing Nigeria’s position as the digital backbone of West Africa,” she declared, adding that Lagos now has the “bragging rights” as the host of West Africa’s largest prefabricated modular data centre.
The Dabengwa Data Centre stands as a critical boost for Nigeria’s digital sovereignty. The modular facility integrates AI-driven energy optimisation, secure storage, and hybrid cloud capabilities to serve businesses of all sizes.
Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, described the launch as a foundation for a truly modern economy. “This centre means we can keep our money local; we don’t have to ship it out in dollars,” he said, applauding MTN for strengthening sectors like fintech, healthcare, education, and artificial intelligence.
Speaking on Nigeria’s expanding digital footprint, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, noted that the centre represents a milestone for technological independence and digital sovereignty.
“The Commission remains committed to creating an enabling environment for digital infrastructure, data protection, and cybersecurity,” Maida said, represented by Engr. Babagaba Digima.
Powering Nigeria’s Data Economy
MTN’s ambition, stakeholders say, goes beyond telecoms to becoming a trusted technology partner offering innovative digital solutions. The Dabengwa Data Centre’s Phase-1 alone uses 96 prefabricated containers a first for the region setting a new benchmark for scale and efficiency.
AI-driven systems optimise workloads, integrate green energy, and minimise the carbon footprint, ensuring sustainable operations for Nigerian businesses.
MTN Nigeria Chairman Dr. Ernest Ndukwe praised the team’s dedication to delivering the massive project, while MTN CEO Dr. Karl Toriola said the centre represents a leap forward in meeting the growing demand for localised, secure, and compliant data hosting solutions.
“Today is not simply the commissioning of a data centre; it’s a testament to our vision of developing a robust, data-centric architecture for Nigeria’s future,” Toriola said.
Chief Enterprise Business Officer at MTN Nigeria, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, revealed that the company would soon launch the MTN Cloud Accelerator for Africa, providing training, resources, and tools for startups to thrive within Africa’s rapidly expanding cloud ecosystem.
The launch aligns with Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) data regulations, which now require sensitive data like health, financial, and government information to be hosted locally. The Dabengwa Data Centre ensures that international cloud players can meet these regulations within a secure, trusted environment.
According to industry data cited by 9am News, Nigeria’s data centre market is expected to grow from 136.7MW in 2025 to 279.4MW by 2030, driven by new investments worth over $630 million.
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