Nigeria drives AI, cybersecurity and data localisation across energy and finance sectors

At the NOG Energy Week 2026 in Abuja, Infodata Professional Services urged Nigeria's oil and gas operators to accelerate digital transformation, emphasizing operational technology (OT) cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) as essential for efficiency, asset reliability and threat detection. The company highlighted solutions such as network segmentation, threat monitoring and AI-driven predictive maintenance, warning that inadequate security could disrupt production and cause financial losses.

Separately, the Central Bank of Nigeria's new rule mandating that payment transaction data be stored on local servers is prompting a surge in demand for data centres, cloud platforms and interconnection services. Industry leaders note that successful localisation depends on robust digital infrastructure, including stable electricity, to support financial, fintech and AI workloads. The policy is reshaping Nigeria's view of data as strategic national infrastructure, driving investment in secure, high‑availability facilities.