NITDA Targets West, Central Africa Cloud Market With New Sovereignty Framework
0
0
NITDA Targets West, Central Africa Cloud Market With New Sovereignty Framework
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has unveiled a new regulatory framework aimed at positioning Nigeria as the preferred cloud infrastructure hub for West and Central Africa while boosting investment in the country’s digital economy.
The initiative, known as the National Sovereignty Cloud Initiative Regulatory Instruments, was launched in Abuja as part of the Federal Government’s drive to strengthen digital sovereignty and expand indigenous cloud infrastructure.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said Nigeria must move beyond meeting domestic digital infrastructure needs to becoming a regional provider of cloud services.
READ ALSO: NITDA Moves to Position Nigeria as Global AI Solutions Provider
“We should position ourselves not to serve Nigeria alone, but to serve West and Central Africa. Nigeria is already the digital gateway to West Africa and can extend to every part of Africa. But we can only realise that goal when we build our infrastructure,” he said.
Abdullahi explained that the framework would provide regulatory certainty, technical standards and assurance mechanisms needed to attract investment into Nigeria’s cloud ecosystem while safeguarding national digital assets.
According to him, the initiative comprises the National Computing Guideline, National Cloud Technical Guideline, National Digital Infrastructure Assurance Framework and the National Cloud Investment Strategy.
He added that the instruments would stimulate innovation, encourage local cloud service providers and strengthen the country’s digital resilience.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, said the initiative would ensure government data remained within Nigeria’s jurisdiction, strengthen regulatory compliance and create opportunities for indigenous technology firms.
He noted that the framework would also catalyse local cloud infrastructure development, create jobs and encourage Nigerian investors to develop digital solutions on secure local platforms.
Also speaking, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, represented by the Director of the Payment System Supervision Department, Dr Rakiya Opemi Yusuf, said collaboration between the apex bank and NITDA would deepen digital finance and cloud innovation.
He noted that while the CBN regulates Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, NITDA provides the national framework for digital infrastructure and cloud governance, describing the partnership as complementary.
The Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the initiative as timely, particularly following the CBN’s directive requiring banks and other financial institutions to localise their data.
According to him, the policy is expected to drive investments, develop indigenous technology talent and create employment opportunities across the country’s digital ecosystem.
To drive implementation, NITDA said it would inaugurate the Sovereign Cloud Governance Committee within two weeks.
The committee will comprise representatives of relevant government institutions, regulators, industry players and the private sector, with the agency serving as its secretariat.
