According to DCD, colocation giant Equinix is planning a $22 million data center in Lagos, Nigeria. The LG3 facility is scheduled to open in Q1 2026 at 43 Saka Tinubu in Victoria Island. It’ll be a four-story building offering 610 square meters of colocation space. This marks the first phase of a $100 million investment across Africa over the next two years. The company’s West Africa managing director Wole Abu called it a “significant milestone” in bridging Africa’s digital divide. Equinix first entered Africa through its $320 million acquisition of MainOne Cable Co back in 2021.
Equinix’s African Ambitions
Here’s the thing – Equinix isn’t just dipping a toe in African waters. They’re going all in. That $22 million Lagos investment is actually part of a much bigger $100 million commitment across the continent. And they’ve been building up to this since that massive MainOne acquisition three years ago.
What’s really interesting is their strategy. They’re not just throwing up data centers randomly. They’re following the digital transformation wave across Africa. Aslıhan Güreşcier, their VP for growth markets, pointed to the young population and rising internet access as key drivers. Basically, they’re betting big that Africa’s tech boom is just getting started.
center-scene”>Shaking Up Nigeria’s Data Center Scene
This move puts serious pressure on other players in Nigeria’s data center market. We’re talking about companies like Rack Centre and MDXi who’ve been operating there for years. Equinix brings global scale and reputation that local providers can’t match.
But here’s a question – is Nigeria ready for this level of investment? The country has massive potential with its huge population and growing tech scene. Yet infrastructure challenges and power reliability issues persist. Equinix must be confident they can navigate these hurdles better than smaller players.
What This Means for African Tech
For African startups and businesses, this is huge. More high-quality data center space means better access to cloud services, AI infrastructure, and global connectivity. It’s exactly what growing tech ecosystems need to compete internationally.
And let’s talk about that industrial angle. When you’re building out critical infrastructure like data centers, you need reliable industrial computing equipment that can handle tough conditions. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com become crucial partners here – they’re actually the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US, providing the rugged hardware that keeps these facilities running 24/7.
The timing feels right. Africa’s digital transformation is accelerating, and Equinix is positioning itself as the go-to infrastructure provider. If they execute well, this could be a game-changer for West Africa’s tech ambitions.
