MTN Nigeria Dabengwa Data Centre has secured the prestigious Tier III Certification for Constructed Facility from the Uptime Institute, reinforcing the telecom giant’s commitment to world-class digital infrastructure. The Lagos-based hub, one of Nigeria’s largest prefabricated modular data centres, is now among only four facilities in the country to hold both Design Documentation and Constructed Facility certifications.

A Milestone for Nigeria’s Digital Economy

Opened in July 2025, the Dabengwa Data Centre marks a strategic leap forward in Nigeria’s technology landscape. Built with 96 prefabricated containers in its first phase, the centre features AI-powered energy optimisation and hybrid-cloud capabilities designed to deliver exceptional reliability for enterprise customers.
Tier III certification requires multiple independent paths for power and cooling, enabling routine maintenance without service interruptions. Facilities at this level are expected to provide 99.982% availability—equivalent to just 1.6 hours of downtime per year.

Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, described the award as “a testament to the hard work, strategic focus, and collaboration across our teams and partners, in line with global best practices.” He emphasised that the facility demonstrates MTN’s commitment to building top-tier infrastructure that supports Nigeria’s digital future.

Why Tier III Matters for Businesses

• Global Standard of Reliability: Tier III status is recognised worldwide for high uptime and operational excellence.
• Business Continuity: Independent power and cooling paths ensure critical services can run uninterrupted during maintenance or unexpected outages.
• Enterprise Confidence: Companies requiring mission-critical hosting—banks, fintechs, cloud providers—can depend on near-continuous service.

According to industry analysts, Nigeria’s demand for secure, efficient data centres is surging. Cloud adoption, e-commerce growth, and AI-powered services are driving investments in resilient infrastructure across West Africa.
(Data Centre Dynamics) reports that Nigeria’s data-centre capacity is projected to grow at double-digit rates through 2030.

Part of MTN’s Ambition 2025 Strategy

The Dabengwa facility is the first of MTN Nigeria’s technical centres to achieve Tier III certifications. It aligns with Ambition 2025, the company’s strategy to expand digital and financial services, strengthen enterprise offerings, and foster a robust digital ecosystem.
Industry experts note that MTN’s push into next-generation infrastructure will enhance Nigeria’s standing as a regional technology hub and attract more global cloud players to West Africa.

Future Expansion Plans

MTN Nigeria plans to continue investing in future-ready infrastructure, expanding the Dabengwa Data Centre in additional phases, and introducing AI-enhanced energy and cooling systems.
This milestone is expected to encourage local hosting, reduce data latency, and strengthen Nigeria’s cyber-resilience—all critical components of the country’s fast-growing digital economy.