Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Tegbe, disclosed on Friday that the country’s data center market—valued at $278 million in 2024—is expected to hit $671 million by 2030. He made the announcement in China during the Digital Silk Road Connection Event, part of the Belt and Road Initiative’s digital cooperation framework.
Tegbe stressed that Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy, combined with its share of Africa’s internet user base—over 160 million connected citizens and part of a continental pool exceeding 570 million users—offers a compelling case for Asia–Africa collaboration. Mobile internet traffic in Nigeria, he noted, is already growing at an annual rate of 40 percent.
“Nigeria’s data center market, valued at $278 million in 2024, is projected to grow to $671 million by 2030. The demand for digital capacity is clear and urgent. This represents a strategic opening for Chinese technology giants under the Digital Silk Road framework,” Tegbe said.
Four Priority Areas for Collaboration
Tegbe outlined priority areas for Nigeria’s partnership with Chinese firms:
- Development of hyperscale data centers and cloud availability zones to strengthen Africa’s digital backbone.
- Diversification of global AI supply chains through the integration of African datasets and talent, ensuring inclusivity in emerging technologies.
- Establishment of joint laboratories in agriculture, healthcare, and financial services to design local solutions informed by local data.
- Strengthening of talent pipelines via research and exchange programmes aligning Nigerian innovation with Chinese expertise.
He tied these priorities to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose 1.4 billion-strong market, he argued, is primed for investors who move decisively.
Nigeria’s Case as a Digital Anchor
At the China International Big Data Industry Expo, Tegbe framed Nigeria as a natural partner for China in replicating its digital transformation on African soil. He cited the country’s thriving fintech sector, expanding fiber infrastructure, and readiness to unlock value from big data as evidence of its potential.
“If we align China’s expertise with Nigeria’s innovation and Africa’s vast markets, we can create new Silk Roads of digital opportunity. Nigeria is ready. Africa is ready. Together with China, we can shape the digital destiny of tomorrow,” he said.
Tegbe further described data as the “new oil” and urged Chinese firms to become early movers in building Africa’s digital highways, with Nigeria serving as the anchor point.
Background on Nigeria–China Engagements
The announcement follows Tegbe’s July 2025 disclosure that engagements between Nigeria and China had already secured over $20 billion in investment commitments across multiple sectors.
He reiterated that the NCSP’s mandate is to steer the implementation of projects under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) while also fostering additional bilateral partnerships beyond formal agreements.