Nigeria needs 45,000mw of power for data centre efficiency

• Minister sees ICT Park build digital capacity
For improved data centre operations in Nigeria, the country would need to have generated over 45,000 megawatts (mw) of power.This was the submission of the Managing Director, Rack Centre, Ayotunde Coker, in Lagos at the Ministry of Communications organised Business Roundtable Stakeholders Engagement for the Financing and Sustainability of the Proposed National ICT Park at the Abuja Technology Village (ATV), last week.
   
Speaking from the perspective of the country having a robust infrastructure to compete favourably, Coker said this would improve Nigeria’s technological index, adding that efficient power system is critical to making Nigeria work.
   
Checks by The Guardian showed that the country is about 40,000mw short in capacity, as output fluctuates between 4,500 mw and 5,000mw. Coker explained that technological index is measured by the availability of latest technology; increased level of technology absorption; Foreign Direct Investments and technology transfers; Internet users per percentage of the population; fixed broadband Internet subscriptions per population; Internet bandwidth and mobile broadband subscription per population.He disclosed that 70 per cent of the top 10 economies are among the top 10 ease of doing business countries, demonstrating readiness score.
   
According to him, Nigeria needs ICT to impact 90 per cent of the economy if it must thrive, and stressed the need for robust policies, improved infrastructure, and an enabling environment to attract investment to the ICT sector and others.
   
Meanwhile, at the Roundtable, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who solicited private sector contribution to the National ICT Park, noted that the establishment of the park will further facilitate digital capacity building for immediate employment, entrepreneurial skills development, job and wealth creation.
   
He said the move is aimed at promoting the digital economy in an era of disruptive technology through effective regulations, noting that the role of ICT park in the information age cannot be over emphasized as Nigeria takes its place among the knowledge-driven nations of the 21st Century.
   
To this end, the minister assured that the Ministry will painstakingly follow all mandated due process as well as engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure success of the project.     
   
Shittu believed that the implementation of ERGP across all sectors of the economy will further yield more results with the establishment of an ICT Park in Nigeria, adding: “The Ministry will engage the Bureau for Public Procurement, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Public Enterprise, to initiate legislation, which would facilitate and guarantee completion, utilisation and maintenance of the park.”

He said Nigeria’s ICT Park as envisioned by the Ministry of Communications focuses on either achieving commercial success or fostering the development of local talent, but not both simultaneously. To be more effective, he said the park will combine and broaden its objectives to create stronger links between government, education, and industry in the ICT ecosystem.
   
To attract and retain talent, these parks will also need excellent lifestyle amenities such as schools, housing, landscaping, retail, and entertainment outlets. Structured correctly, this new ICT park will be able to operate along the full ICT value chain, from ideation to commercialisation, and will be well-positioned to help fulfil the expanding Nigeria’s future economic missions.      
  
The Director of ICT, in the Ministry, Mrs. Monilola Udoh, said the concept of the Abuja ICT Park would enhance smart living and digitalised lifestyle of Nigerians, and designed to fill the technical skills gap of university graduates, where software developers would be trained and re-trained.