The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has introduced four key instruments to strengthen Nigeria’s cloud governance, digital infrastructure, and investment landscape: the National Cloud Computing Guideline 2026, National Cloud Technical Guideline 2026, National Digital Infrastructure Assurance Framework (NDIAF), and National Cloud Investment Strategy. The Guidelines, signed by the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, on 4 August 2026, are scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.1
The National Cloud Computing Guideline introduces a “Cloud First” policy requiring Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) to prioritise cloud-based solutions, with Nigeria targeting 75% cloud adoption across FPIs by 2030. It also establishes a four-tier data classification framework, with sensitive and classified data subjected to strict in-country hosting requirements, while financial data held by regulated institutions must primarily be hosted within Nigeria. To