Rack Centre Lagos AI Data Center Campus: West Africa's 13.5MW Hub
Status: Active Expansion / Under Development | Location: Plot 18 Jagal Cl, Jagal Road, Oregun, Lagos 101233, Lagos, Nigeria
Project Overview
Rack Centre’s Lagos Campus, anchored by the operational LGS1 facility and the newly developed 12 MW LGS2 data center, is West Africa’s premier carrier- and cloud-neutral digital infrastructure hub, strategically located in the Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial and technology capital. Designed to meet the growing demand for hyperscale cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), high-performance computing (HPC), and enterprise colocation, the expanded campus spans approximately 20,000 square metres and delivers up to 13.5 MW of scalable IT power capacity. The infrastructure is purpose-built to support high-density computing environments with resilient power, advanced cooling systems, and flexible deployment options for hyperscale cloud providers, telecommunications operators, financial institutions, content providers, and multinational enterprises. Sustainability is a key focus of the campus, which is powered primarily by high-efficiency natural gas generation complemented by integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, contributing to lower carbon emissions and earning the internationally recognized IFC EDGE green building certification. As one of Africa’s most interconnected data center campuses, the facility hosts the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), enabling efficient domestic internet traffic exchange while reducing latency and network costs. The campus also provides direct fiber backhaul connectivity to all five Atlantic subsea cable systems landing in Nigeria, offering low-latency international connectivity to Europe, North America, and other global markets. Combining sustainable operations, resilient infrastructure, carrier neutrality, and exceptional network connectivity, Rack Centre’s Lagos Campus serves as a future-ready digital infrastructure platform supporting cloud expansion, AI innovation, and digital transformation across West Africa.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Rack Centre Lagos AI Data Center Campus: West Africa's 13.5MW Hub |
| Location | Plot 18 Jagal Cl, Jagal Road, Oregun, Lagos 101233, Lagos, Nigeria |
| Status | Active Expansion / Under Development |
| Commissioning | LGS1 Operational / LGS2 Target Go-Live: 2024–2026 |
| Total IT Load | 13.5 MW Critical IT Load (1.5 MW LGS1 + 12 MW LGS2) |
| Total Capacity | ~25 MVA Total Utility Power Capacity across 20,000 m² site area (~3,240 m² whitespace) |
| Tier Level | Tier III Certified (Uptime Institute TCCF) / IFC EDGE Green Building Certified, ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 45001, PCI-DSS |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built Carrier-Neutral Hyperscale, High-Density AI/HPC Hub & Subsea Interconnect Gateway |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Ikeja |
| Population | ~500,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | Part of the Lagos Metropolitan Area (~20–22 million) |
| City GDP | Part of the Lagos metropolitan economy (estimated USD 100+ billion) |
| Per Capita Income | ~USD 5,000 (estimated, Lagos metropolitan area) |
| City Tier | Tier 1 – Commercial, Technology & Digital Infrastructure Hub |
| Key Strengths | Capital of Lagos State; major commercial and administrative center; home to Murtala Muhammed International Airport; strong telecommunications and fiber infrastructure; growing data center ecosystem; headquarters for many banks, telecom operators, and multinational companies; skilled workforce; strategic location within Nigeria's largest economic region; expanding cloud and digital infrastructure market. |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Rack Centre |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | IXPN (Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria), Ikeja Electric, and Natural Gas Utility Suppliers |
| Construction Contractor | Specialized African & International Mission-Critical EPC Contractors |
| MEP Engineering | Rack Centre In-House Global Engineering & Infrastructure Teams |
| Network Connectivity | Carrier-neutral platform with access to 73+ telecom carriers; 4 distinct Meet-Me-Rooms (MMRs); direct redundant fiber backhaul to all 5 Atlantic subsea landing cables (WACS, Glo1, ACE, MainOne, SAT-3). |
| Power Infrastructure | Predominant natural gas-driven power plant backed by dual utility grid connections, static 2N / N+1 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, automated switchgear, and dedicated standby diesel generator plants with multi-day fuel reserves. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | ~25 MVA Total Utility & On-Site Generation Capacity Allocation |
| UPS Redundancy | 2N Redundant Static UPS Architecture |
| Cooling System | Closed-loop precision cooling with N+2 thermal redundancy, Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling (DLC) readiness for high-density GPU racks (up to 70 kW/rack), and automated BMS environmental controls. |
| Connectivity | Carrier-neutral access with direct low-latency cloud express on-ramps (AWS Direct Connect, Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute) and regional subsea cable cross-connects. |
| PUE Target | < 1.35 Annualized Operational Design PUE (IFC EDGE Certified) |
| Energy Mix | High-efficiency natural gas power generation combined with on-site rooftop solar PV array integration. |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | April 2023 |
| Construction Start | 2023 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Operational (LGS1) / Target 2025–2026 (LGS2) |
| Full Buildout | Active Multi-Building Hyperscale Expansion |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | Estimated $100,000,000 USD |
| Funding | Capital Expenditure & Infrastructure Financing by Rack Centre / Actis & Convergence Partners |