NSIA’s 100MW Data Centre To Power Nigeria’s AI Economy
Quick Reads
- NSIA plans a 100MW hyperscale AI data centre, called KASI, in Lagos.
- The facility will offer high-performance GPU computing for local AI training.
- It aims to cut Nigeria’s reliance on costly offshore cloud infrastructure.
- KASI will serve fintech, healthcare, agriculture and global hyperscalers like Google.
- NSIA pairs this with venture funds and a $50m JICA innovation fund.
NSIA’s 100MW data centre plan puts Nigeria on the map for large-scale AI infrastructure. The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority has unveiled plans for a hyperscale facility in Lagos. Known as the KASI Hyperscale Data Centre, the project targets 100 megawatts of combined capacity. This scale would place it among Africa’s largest AI-ready data centre developments. Beyond basic hosting, KASI will include high-performance GPU computing for local AI training. Businesses, government agencies and technology firms increasingly need this kind of computing power. As a result, NSIA sees the facility as core infrastructure for Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Authority currently relies heavily on offshore cloud and data-processing systems. This dependence drives up foreign exchange costs and raises data sovereignty concerns. Consequently, KASI aims to keep more digital spending and data within Nigeria. NSIA’s 100MW data centre could also support Nigerian fintech, healthcare and agriculture innovation. For instance, fintech firms could run local AI-powered fraud detection systems. Meanwhile, healthcare providers could build diagnostic tools using Nigerian datasets.
According to NSIA, the project reflects a broader shift toward treating digital infrastructure as critical national infrastructure. Managing director Aminu Umar-Sadiq is positioning KASI alongside roads and power as strategic assets. The facility will also serve global hyperscalers like Google, Amazon and Meta. Additionally, it may serve Nigerian banks, insurers and local tech businesses.
NSIA is pairing this infrastructure push with venture investments through its Future Generations Fund. The Authority also runs a $50 million Impact Innovation Fund with Japan’s JICA. Together, these efforts give NSIA a stake in both infrastructure and applications. As BusinessDay reports, the KASI project signals Nigeria’s bet on computing capacity as future infrastructure. If completed, the centre could create jobs and attract global tech investment. It could also strengthen Nigeria’s position in Africa’s growing AI economy.
