The General Manager of Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Yusuf, stated during a press conference in Lagos that From a Microsoft standpoint, our current focus is on the infrastructure we are providing, particularly through services like ExpressRoute
. Yusuf explained that this service allows organizations to establish a dedicated link from their data centers directly to Microsoft Azure across chosen regions. He declined to confirm any discussions about establishing a data center in Nigeria, stating, Those are not conversations we are able to discuss
and Conversations may be ongoing, but they are not something we publicly comment on
.
Microsoft is currently focusing on ensuring Nigerian businesses can reliably access its cloud services through enhanced connectivity solutions such as ExpressRoute. This approach aims to offer improved performance, security, and reliability by connecting enterprises directly to Microsoft‘s global cloud infrastructure, bypassing the public internet. According to Yusuf, this strategy addresses the immediate requirements of Nigerian organizations adopting cloud services. Microsoft already operates cloud regions on the African continent, having launched facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town in .
Yusuf indicated that while there is an appetite for local data center investments as part of digital transformation agendas, Microsoft‘s current priorities for Nigeria are focused on leveraging its existing global infrastructure. He noted, There is always an appetite for every country to want to have data centres
and acknowledged ongoing conversations
between the government and ecosystem partners. Industry stakeholders have argued that local hyperscale data centers could help reduce latency, strengthen data sovereignty, and improve system resilience, especially as government services, fintech, e-commerce, healthcare, and artificial intelligence sectors expand. Nigeria’s data center market is projected to grow significantly, with installed capacity expected to increase from approximately 56.1 megawatts in to over 218 megawatts by . The country currently hosts around 17 active data centers, with expansion projects underway by operators such as Equinix and Airtel’s Nxtra Data Centre unit.
Specific timelines for any potential future data center investments by Microsoft in Nigeria were not disclosed. Details regarding the nature or participants of the “ongoing conversations” between the Nigerian government and ecosystem partners were also not made public.
Looking ahead to the calendar year, Yusuf stated that Nigeria remains strategically important to Microsoft within a broader regional framework. He outlined three key priorities: continued engagement and partnership with the government, assisting organizations and large enterprises in achieving business outcomes, and developing their partner ecosystem. Microsoft appears set to continue serving Nigeria through its existing regional infrastructure and enhanced connectivity solutions, even as local demand for data localization and hyperscale facilities continues to grow.
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