Airtel Africa has officially commenced construction on its first data facility in Lagos, as part of its new Nxtra data centre business. This project is expected to create over 1000 jobs in Nigeria, 250 of which will be permanent once the centre becomes fully operational. The news was announced by Segun Ogunsanya, the Group CEO of Airtel Africa, at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony held in Lagos.
Once completed, the Nxtra by Airtel data centre will offer 38 megawatts of power and include high-density racks built with the latest best practices in order to achieve a 1.3 power use effectiveness (PUE). The facility is scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2026.
Ogunsanya highlighted that the Nxtra project represents a significant moment in Airtel’s growth strategy, and is particularly significant with regards to Nigeria, the company’s biggest market. He further commented on how the Nxtra Data Centers will boost data sovereignty, security, and preservation across Africa, reflecting Airtel’s commitment to establishing Nigeria as a major hub for digital services access.
Further commenting on the Nxtra project, Brabajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State said the project signals a new era in data control, security, and preservation in Africa.
Moreover, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, emphasized the potential this project holds for the economy and businesses in a future powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centres like Nxtra. He stated that data is a critical component in Nigeria’s economy, highlighting the necessity to invest in the digital economy and the impact of investments made by companies like Airtel.
