- Data Domestication Key for Nigeria’s Digital Economy – Experts
Nigerian experts on data hosting has called on President Muhammad Buhari to facilitate data operation centres across the 36 states of the federation as they described Nigeria as a nursing digital economy with big data exploration.
The experts spoke at a recent ‘Breakfast with the CEO’ forum organised by the National Information Technology Reporters Association’s (NITRA) in Lagos with the theme; “Data Center Operation In Nigeria: Impacts, Benefits And Challenges In a Knowledge Economy”.
They linked the need for data operation centres to be situated across the nation to the growth of the economy stating that it will not only facilitate seamless hosting of local data but saves the nation from unnecessary cash flow outside the country.
Nigeria is not lacking expertise and capability inspite the big data exploration in the country but there are only few certified Tier III data centres serving critical sectors of economy and this can only be improve with more operation centres across states in the nation, they explained.
They added that Government has a lot to do to complement efforts through its policy formulation and strategy implementation to really put the country on the right footage towards making it a desired digital nation with seamless data hosting space.
According to the Director of Operations, Rack Center, Ezekeil Egboye, data Centers are key facilities in developing any country’s economy as it is a storehouse for critical components of any company’s existence
He explained that there is a co-relationship between macro-economic rating and infrastructure readiness, as well as technology readiness, nothing that Nigeria must show technology and infrastructure readiness to boost her macro economy.
Recall that Nigeria is ranked 122 in macroeconomic index with her Infrastructure and Technology readiness standing at 2.0 and 3.0 of 10 respectively. This he said, can be improved if the challenge of people, processes and control are tamed in the industry.
According to him, there is need to acquire people with the right skill, set and train competent experts to man the Data Centers, while also ensuring that processes are put in place to have clear documentation and control.
- Inadequate Data Centre Bane of Nigeria’s Digital Economy
In the submission of Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Communications, Ikechukwu Nnamani, Nigeria needs 72 Data Centers across the country, one in each state. This is needed not only to help in economic improvement, but also in effective connectivity and quality of data services.
He added that federal government should put policies in place that will ensure that data are hosted locally and also improve on infrastructure support policies to drive down cost.
He explained that the quality of data transmitted locally is improved if hosted locally.
He also pointed out that there will be merit in payment structure as others will be paying to the country for data access as against the present prevailing position where data is hosted outside the country.
- Promote Security of Data with Local Hosting Policy
General Manager, MDXi, Gbenga Adegbiyi, while unfolding his company’s expansion strategy, noted that Nigerians will have to be sensitized on the benefits of localized data hosting.
He observed that very many foreign companies are bringing in their data for hosting in Nigerian Data Centers, having also realized that it is cost effective.
“Data domestication in the country is very important. We need to let the federal government know this. This will promote security of data, job availability, local content, among other things.”
He noted that about 60 percent of the operating cost of data centers is on power, and there should be focus on regulation and infrastructure.
Facebook, among some other Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers are already hosting their data in Nigeria, and more are expected to join them.
