Huawei Technologies, a global leader in information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, is preparing to establish a data centre in Nigeria, marking a significant move to comply with the country’s data storage regulations. The new facility, referred to as a “cloud site,” is expected to go live on October 31, 2024, and will provide data storage and computing resources for local businesses and sectors.
David Olaiya, Head of Cloud Fintech Business Development at Huawei Nigeria, made the announcement during a keynote session at the Fintech Week event in Lagos. Olaiya explained that the data centre will serve as an extension of Huawei’s existing cloud infrastructure in South Africa, with further links to its data centre in Ireland. This new addition will bolster local businesses’ cloud capabilities while ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s data protection requirements.
Olaiya highlighted that Huawei’s decision to set up a local data centre addresses key concerns about data sovereignty and compliance. Under the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), businesses handling Nigerian user data are required to store that data within the country. Many companies using foreign cloud services have faced compliance issues as data is often transmitted across borders, leading to potential breaches of the regulation.
With the launch of this local data centre, Nigerian businesses, particularly in the fintech sector, will be able to ensure that their data remains within the country, meeting the NDPR’s mandates. This also means lower latency levels, enhanced availability, and a local support team to manage operations, in addition to Huawei’s global 24/7 cloud support.
Huawei Cloud currently operates 93 availability zones across 33 regions globally, but within Africa, it only has data centre regions in South Africa and Egypt. In Egypt, Huawei partnered with Telecom Egypt to build its first locally-based public cloud platform to support the nation’s digital transformation efforts.
The move to establish a data centre in Nigeria is also aligned with Huawei’s ongoing commitment to support local innovation. Earlier this year, Huawei Cloud announced its plans to support 100 Nigerian startups over the next two years, helping them scale and innovate using its cloud platform.
The Nigerian government has also been proactive in developing its data storage infrastructure. In early May 2024, the government announced its own plans to open a data centre capable of storing up to 1.4 petabytes of data, ensuring the secure housing of critical national information, such as citizens’ biometric data.
