NITDA Unveils Sovereign Cloud Framework To Strengthen Nigeria’s AI, Data Centre Infrastructure
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed key regulatory instruments under the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative (NSCI), marking a significant step towards building a trusted cloud ecosystem and strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The agency signed the National Cloud Computing Guideline, the National Cloud Technical Guideline and the National Digital Infrastructure Assurance Framework (NDIAF), while also unveiling the National Cloud Investment Strategy.
According to NITDA, the framework provides a structured national approach to cloud adoption, digital sovereignty, infrastructure assurance and investment, positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for cloud services, data centres, artificial intelligence infrastructure, sovereign computing and other critical digital infrastructure.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described cloud infrastructure as a strategic national asset that underpins digital government, financial services, artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, innovation and digital trade.
He said the initiative signalled Nigeria’s transition from developing digital policies to implementing frameworks that provide regulatory certainty, technical standards and assurance mechanisms for the country’s cloud ecosystem.
Abdullahi added that the framework would help safeguard Nigeria’s digital sovereignty while creating opportunities for investment, innovation and sustainable economic growth.
He noted that the initiative would establish the foundation for a trusted cloud ecosystem that balances digital security with economic opportunities.
Implementation of the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative will begin immediately through a phased approach, with NITDA establishing a Sovereign Cloud Governance Committee to provide strategic oversight.
By October 2026, the agency plans to operationalise a national digital regulatory platform for the onboarding, assessment, certification and regulation of cloud and digital infrastructure providers operating in Nigeria.
The initiative comes as NITDA intensifies efforts to strengthen trust, security and accountability across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem amid the rapid adoption of cloud services and emerging technologies.
In July, the agency warned that fragmented cybersecurity defences across ministries, departments and agencies were creating vulnerabilities that could expose government digital infrastructure to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Citing the Deloitte Nigeria Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, NITDA said cybercrime cost Nigeria more than $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.
The agency has also introduced measures to improve the quality and reliability of software deployed across government and regulated sectors.
Weeks before unveiling the sovereign cloud framework, NITDA launched the National Software Quality Assurance Framework, requiring federal government software projects to undergo independent third-party testing and certification before deployment.
According to the agency, the framework is intended to reduce costly IT failures, strengthen cybersecurity and improve public confidence in digital government services.
The sovereign cloud initiative also comes amid growing cybersecurity threats linked to Nigeria’s accelerating digital transformation.
In May, NITDA, through its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT.NG), issued an advisory on DeepLoad, an artificial intelligence-powered malware targeting government agencies, financial institutions, businesses and individuals.
The agency said the warning underscored the increasing sophistication of cyber threats as more critical services move online, reinforcing the need for stronger digital infrastructure protection, enhanced security standards and robust governance frameworks.
Boluwatife Enome
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