OADC: Why we are investing N366,2bn on data centre in Nigeria
Open Access Data Centres (OADC), a subsidiary of the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), has said it is spending $240 million (over N366bn) to deliver open-access, hyperscale data centres that will enable connectivity, cloud integration and digital transformation across Africa.
The multinational firm’s chief executive officer, Ayotunde Coker, who disclosed this in Lagos when the firm unveiled plans for a $240 million, 24-megawatt (MW) hyperscale data centre in Lagos, said the project would be executed in two phases, with the first 12MW set to be completed within 18 months.
Coker said the building of a world-class data centre requires significant investment which is why OADC is investing an estimated $240m, funded through equity and debt.
The company has secured partnerships with major financial institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Proparco, and was among the first in the region to secure a sustainability-linked loan, he said.
Coker said,
This project is a game-changer for Nigeria’s digital economy.
“With hyperscale capacity and AI-readiness, our Lagos facility will be one of the largest and most advanced in West Africa. It will set new benchmarks for scalability, resilience and efficiency, ensuring that Nigeria remains at the forefront of Africa’s data centre revolution”
He added that the data centre would provide critical infrastructure for global and local hyperscale clients, ensuring low-latency access to cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud.
The CEO disclosed that OADC is executing an ambitious core-to-edge strategy, deploying hyperscale core data centres in major cities while also rolling out smaller edge data centres in emerging locations.
He stated,
This approach ensures that businesses across Africa have access to low-latency, high-performance digital infrastructure.
“Existing facilities include a flagship data centre in Lagos, with planned expansions in Abuja and Port Harcourt. All OADC core facilities adhere to the highest industry standards, including Uptime Institute Tier III certification, ISO 27001 compliance, and PCI DSS certification,”
He said the demand for data centre capacity in Nigeria is growing rapidly, with major global players investing in Lagos, which is now emerging as Africa’s next major data centre hub, second only to Johannesburg, South Africa.
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OADC: Why we are investing N366,2bn on data centre in Nigeria, source
