Katsina State has signed a landmark agreement with greentech firm, Conflow Power Group Limited (CPG), in partnership with Mora Energy, for the deployment of 50,000 solar-powered iLamp units, marking what they describe as Africa’s first distributed AI compute infrastructure embedded within public lighting systems.
 
The large-scale rollout positions Katsina as the continent’s first AI-powered smart state, extending beyond conventional smart city models to deliver intelligent infrastructure across an entire state.

The iLamp units, designed as solar-powered smart streetlights, also function as revenue-generating distributed AI data centres, capable of supporting advanced computing needs without relying on the national grid.

Under the agreement, each iLamp would integrate multiple functionalities, including AI-enabled cameras and monitoring systems for public safety, traffic management and infrastructure protection, subject to regulatory and data governance frameworks.

The units will also provide public WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity and high-efficiency LED lighting, all powered entirely by solar energy with no additional operational cost to the state.
 
The initiative comes amid growing global scrutiny of traditional AI data centres, particularly in the United States, where concerns over massive electricity consumption and water usage have led to moratoriums in several states. In contrast, the iLamp technology is designed to operate off-grid, requiring no water cooling and drawing zero power from national electricity networks.
 
Chief Executive Officer of CPG, Edward Fitzpatrick, described the agreement as a turning point in the evolution of AI infrastructure globally.
 
“This agreement is a defining moment for how the world thinks about AI infrastructure, and we are proud that Katsina is the first Nigerian state to complete this process with us. Every ministry asked the right questions and satisfied itself across land use, highway regulation, data protection and security before writing to the Governor,” he said.
 
He added that by contrast with traditional data centre models, which typically require 300MW of grid power, millions of litres of cooling water and years of construction, Katsina’s 13.75 PetaOPS arrives on an iLamp post powered by the sun, operational from day one. 
 
“As the first to cross the line, CPG will locate its first factory in Katsina and create Nigeria’s first Green Utility,” he said.
 
Fitzpatrick added that such rigour is critical to ensuring transparency and long-term success.

The agreement followed a rigorous, multi-stage due diligence and regulatory review process typical of large-scale public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Nigeria. Officials said the development represents a significant boost to the country’s smart infrastructure ambitions and CPG’s expansion strategy across Africa.
 
Founder of Mora Energy, Stanley Chuka-Umeora, noted that while the agreement marks a major milestone, implementation would be critical to unlocking its full benefits.
 
Once ongoing negotiations are concluded, the combined rollout is expected to exceed 300,000 iLamp units across federal, state and institutional installations, potentially creating the largest distributed autonomous lighting and AI compute network ever contemplated in Africa.
 
Equally, discussions are ongoing regarding the deployment of the iLamp technology along Nigeria’s 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a project described as strategically significant at the national level.
 
Special Adviser on Power and Energy to the Katsina State Government, Dr Hafiz Ibrahim Ahmad, said the agreement places the state at the forefront of digital infrastructure development on the continent.