With the growing data in Lagos State, the state Government has promised to build a state-owned data centre to manage her data.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, disclosed this at the groundbreaking ceremony of Rack Centre 12mw IT power capacity data centre facility in Lagos recently.
He called on the private sector to come and partner the state in making the project a reality.
Hamzat, who disclosed that as of 2021, data centre investments (via private operators) in the state, have crossed over $1 billion, pledged to improve the business climate in the state and make it more conducive for both local and foreign investors.
“Our data and other information is growing phenomenally, so, it has become crucial that we manage them adequately well.”
On his part, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Rack Centre, Jasper Lankhorst said, “With about 85 million Internet subscribers, more than any country in Africa or Europe, and the largest population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa, Nigeria is a key entry point for global telecommunications, content, and cloud players seeking access to the region. We are embarking on this new build to bring applications and data closer to the user and improve the quality and speed of the user experience.’’
Lankhorst disclosed that Rack Centre is developing one of the most efficient and sustainable data centres in Lagos, Nigeria, and across Sub-Saharan Africa in line with its sustainability strategy. The company, according to him, is switching its power source from diesel to gas not only to reduce carbon footprint but also to reduce environmental impact and align with the global sustainability data centre design trend.
“Rack Centre is forecasted to be 35 per cent more energy-efficient than other regional data centres, and 16 per cent more energy-efficient than the global average. It will reduce water consumption by 41 per cent, and there will be a 45 per cent saving in embodied energy in materials used,” he said.
