Equinix to build $22m data center in Lagos, expanding Africa footprint
Equinix Inc., the world’s leading digital infrastructure company, has announced plans to build a new high-performance data center in Lagos, Nigeria, marking a major step in its expansion across Africa.
The new facility, named LG3, represents a $22 million investment and is the first Equinix data center to be newly built in West Africa. Scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026, the site will deliver critical digital infrastructure to Nigeria’s fast-growing technology ecosystem and serve as a gateway for international connectivity across the continent.
Equinix said the Lagos build is part of a broader $100 million investment plan for Africa over the next two years, underscoring its long-term commitment to closing the region’s digital divide and accelerating cloud adoption.
“LG3 marks a significant milestone in Equinix’s long-term commitment to bridging Africa’s digital divide. As Lagos emerges at the crossroads of talent, innovation, and global connectivity, this facility is accelerating access to technologies like cloud, AI, and the next wave of startups,” said Wole Abu, managing director for West Africa at Equinix.
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The Lagos expansion will also bring Equinix Fabric to the Nigerian market, enabling enterprises to connect securely to cloud service providers, partners, and more than 270 Equinix data centers worldwide. The service offers private, on-demand connections across hybrid multicloud environments, supporting sectors such as banking, education, healthcare, and e-commerce.
Nigeria, Africa’s second-largest economy, has become a magnet for data infrastructure investment as businesses and governments move services online. Lagos, in particular, is home to one of Africa’s most vibrant startup ecosystems and serves as a major landing point for subsea cables linking the continent with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
“Africa’s digital transformation is accelerating, driven by a young population, rising internet access, and increasing demand for secure data infrastructure. With the opening of our newest data center in Lagos, Equinix is proud to invest in this dynamic region, supporting our customers’ growth with world-class infrastructure,” said Aslıhan Güreşcier, vice president for EMEA Growth and Emerging Markets at Equinix.
Since entering Africa in 2022, Equinix has expanded its presence to Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa, positioning itself as a key player in the continent’s connectivity renaissance.
The company emphasized that LG3 will be built with sustainability in mind, aligning with Equinix’s global environmental standards and energy-efficiency goals. With LG3, Equinix is not only extending its global reach but also deepening its role as a critical enabler of Africa’s digital economy.
