FG Unveils National Digital Cloud Policy, Targets $750m Investment

The Federal Government has unveiled a National Digital Cloud Policy designed to reposition Nigeria as a competitive regional hub for cloud computing, data hosting and digital services, with officials targeting $750 million in private investment over the next two years.

Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Bosun Tijani unveiled the policy on August 18, 2026, describing it as a roadmap for reducing Nigeria's dependence on foreign-hosted digital infrastructure. The policy sets an initial benchmark of $250 million in private investment within its first 12 months, rising to the full $750 million target by the end of a 24-month implementation window.

The framework rests on four priorities: investment and market development, regional digital services exports, government cloud transformation, and digital sovereignty and security. Rather than imposing broad data localisation rules, the policy applies sovereignty requirements narrowly, to sensitive government and regulated data considered critical to national interest, an approach officials say is meant to keep Nigeria attractive to global cloud providers while still protecting core state data.

Implementation is expected to unfold in three phases. The first six months will focus on activating the policy and setting up institutions, the following six months will see the launch of a National Digital Marketplace alongside the start of government migration to local cloud infrastructure, and the final year will focus on scaling infrastructure, extending the programme to participating states, and growing digital services exports. Oversight will be split among the National Information Technology Development Agency, which will handle regulation and standards; Galaxy Backbone, responsible for operations and infrastructure; and the Bureau of Public Procurement, which will monitor procurement compliance.

Tijani said Nigeria must move from being “primarily a consumer” of global cloud infrastructure to becoming a competitive location for it, framing the policy as part of a broader push to grow the country's digital economy and cut reliance on foreign-hosted services.

Source: TheCable, Premium Times