Nigeria committed to implement policy on localising data storage – NITDA DG

19 Sep 2016
Financial Nigeria

Summary

Acting Director General of NITDA said efforts need to be put in place, in conjunction with the Office for Nigeria Content in ICT, to support viable companies like Rack Centre.

Vincent Olatunji, Acting Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency

Acting Director General of The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian government to implement its policy on localisation of government data in the country. The NITDA boss restated government's commitment to this effect during a recent visit to Rack Centre, the Nigeria-based data centre provider offering colocation and disaster recovery services.

According to a statement released on Monday by Rack Centre, Dr. Olatunji was taken on a tour of the facility by Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director of Rack Centre – which is a subsidiary of Jagal, a Nigerian conglomerate.

“We will do everything within our powers to ensure that the Nigerian government policy on local hosting of government data in the country is fully implemented,” said Dr Olatunji.

The policy is premised on ensuring the security of government data and promoting development of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in the country. NITDA is the government agency in charge of regulating the ICT industry in Nigeria as well as promoting human capital and infrastructure development in the country.

The Acting Director General of NITDA added that efforts need to be put in place, in conjunction with the Office for Nigeria Content in ICT – a special purpose vehicle for implementing the local content policy – to support viable companies like Rack Centre.

Speaking of Rack Centre's capacity, Dr. Olatunji said, “This facility surpasses every other data centre that I had visited inside and outside the country and we need to have all hands on deck to develop the ICT sector considering its impact on all the other sectors of the economy.”

In his remarks, Managing Director of Rack Centre said, “We are delighted that the Acting DG acknowledges the quality of Rack Centre in comparison to other places he has visited, even in more advanced economies. Rack Centre is the only truly carrier neutral data centre and the best connected in Africa.”

Rack Centre operates a Tier III Design Certified data centre offering carrier-neutral colocation services whereby companies do not have to invest in fixed infrastructure.


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