FG Eyes $750m Cloud Investment, Unveils 90,000km Fibre Network to Accelerate Digital Economy

The Federal Government has announced plans to attract $750 million in private sector investment into Nigeria’s cloud and data infrastructure within the next two years, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s digital economy and position it as a leading technology hub in Africa.

The initiative was unveiled at the GITEX 2026 Government Leadership and AI Summit in Abuja, where government officials outlined a roadmap aimed at transforming Nigeria from a consumer of technology into a producer and exporter of digital solutions.

According to the government, the newly introduced National Digital Cloud Policy is expected to boost investments in local data centres and cloud services, creating opportunities for innovation, job creation, and regional digital expansion.

As part of the broader digital transformation agenda, authorities also revealed plans to deploy a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network across the country. The project is designed to extend broadband access to all states, local governments, and wards, while improving internet connectivity in underserved communities.

The government further disclosed that about 3,700 telecommunications towers will be installed to connect more than 20 million Nigerians currently lacking reliable digital access.

Officials highlighted ongoing investments in digital skills development through the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, which has recorded widespread participation nationwide. Thousands of Nigerians have already received training in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software engineering, and cloud computing.

The administration also pointed to recent reforms in identity management and data governance, describing them as critical steps toward achieving data sovereignty and strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.

Stakeholders at the summit stressed the importance of developing homegrown artificial intelligence solutions, noting that locally trained AI systems are essential for addressing Nigeria’s unique economic, social, and security challenges.

Industry leaders and investors were encouraged to collaborate with government agencies to accelerate innovation and ensure Nigeria secures a significant share of Africa’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence market in the coming years.