Officials said the framework aims to keep Lagos safe as the state expands its digital economy and implements its smart city plans.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said cyber risks are growing as more organisations move services online and rely heavily on digital systems.

He said Lagos, which is one of Africa’s busiest technology centres, now faces greater exposure to attacks targeting companies, financial services, e-commerce platforms and public institutions.

Noting figures from the National Information Technology Development Agency, Omotoso said Nigeria loses more than $500 million every year to cybercrime.

“This underscores the urgency for stronger, coordinated cybersecurity measures to protect businesses, institutions and residents,” he said.

According to the state government, the guidelines provide steps for small businesses, major companies and ministries, departments and agencies.

They include security checks to identify weak points, stronger login protection such as multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, secure data backups, staff training and phishing awareness exercises.

The framework also advises organisations to improve incident reporting and ensure they meet national legal requirements on data protection and cybercrime.

“The document reflects our proactive approach to safeguarding digital assets while enabling innovation and economic growth.

“These guidelines are not regulatory mandates but tools empowering stakeholders with actionable, context-specific recommendations,” Omotoso said.

Lagos said the new cybersecurity guidelines supports existing national laws and policies, including the Cybercrime Act 2024, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.

Officials stressed that the state guidelines are meant to complement federal regulations, not replace them.

Omotoso said a secure digital environment is necessary to encourage innovation, attract investment and maintain public trust.

He also commended the Lagos State Cybersecurity Advisory Council, chaired by Prof. Fene Osakwe, for leading work on the document.

He acknowledged support from Tubosun Alake, saying his contribution was important to delivering the project.

“A cyber secure Lagos is critical to sustaining its position as a globally competitive technology hub in the 21st century,” he said.

The state government added that it will continue reviewing the guidelines as threats change and new risks emerge, including ransomware and other advanced attacks.

Located in the Alaro City corridor, Itana aims to become Africa’s first fully digital economic zone.

I believe this project brings one of the clearest windows into how Nigeria might re-imagine its economic model for the next decade. 

But for real, will it become a measurable impact? This piece examines how Itana works, why it’s important, what stands in its way, and what it means for investors, policymakers and Nigeria’s broader tech ecosystem.

Nigeria’s Tech & Investment Space

Nigeria is home to one of Africa’s largest technology markets. Its fintech sector in particular has produced global-recognised firms and attracts a disproportionate share of Africa-bound venture capital.

But the country still faces structural limitations including power outages, foreign-exchange instability, regulatory uncertainty and infrastructure gaps. 

In the free-zone space, Nigeria already has numerous industrial‐ or manufacturing-oriented zones under the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) framework, more than 44 zones licensed under its regulations as of 2022. 

The typical free-zone model in Nigeria has been rooted in export manufacturing, not digital services. This leaves a gap, even with software, remote work, digital trade and services having the upper hand in the country, Nigeria still risks being left behind unless it adapts.

What Itana Is – Vision, Model, Mechanics

Itana has been built as the first digital free zone in Nigeria, and arguably in Africa. It uses Nigeria’s existing free-zone laws, rather than waiting for entirely new legislation, to launch a business jurisdiction tailored to digital, tech and services companies. 

Key features include:

• A 72,000 m² initial district in Alaro City, Lagos State’s Lekki Free Zone corridor, with mixed-use physical infrastructure: campus, co-living, outdoor work areas, biking trails, reliable power, fibre-optic internet, piped gas and clean water. 
• Incorporation and operations entirely digital: a business can be registered remotely (from Nairobi, London or Yaba) with a fee of $2,000 initial and $1,150 annual renewal, which covers business address, document handling and collaborative space access.
• Regulatory and operational incentives: tax advantages for eligible businesses, ability to operate in foreign currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, etc.), no expatriate quotas for work/residency in the zone, full foreign ownership permitted.
• Strong institutional backing: a partnership with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) that committed $100 million to phase one of the development. 
• Government engagement: in mid-2025, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment pledged to support Itana’s mission to create 100,000 high-value jobs over five years.
  In short: Itana cannot just be described as a piece of land, but a package of infrastructure + regulation + ecosystem for digital/tech services. I view it as a kind of jurisdictional innovation experiment: can Nigeria create a “digital enclave” that is globally competitive?

Why It’s Important: Opportunity & Value Proposition

For global digital businesses, Itana provides a great value proposition: a gateway into Africa with streamlined incorporation, tax/operational incentives, and access to Nigeria’s large market (and by extension, continental reach). 

In other words, less friction to set up and scale from Nigeria. For Nigeria and Africa, Itana offers three major benefits:

• FDI attraction & talent retention – In offering a globally competitive jurisdiction, it may pull in foreign capital and keep diaspora talent or local entrepreneurs from exiting.
• Leap-frogging infrastructure/regulation – Rather than upgrading every regulatory detail nationwide, Nigeria can pilot a high-standards zone. If successful, the model may diffuse.
• Pan-African hub leverage – With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and rising digital services export potential, Nigeria could become a base for cross-border digital services. Analysts note that the shift from manufacturing to services is already overdue in Africa. 

From a strategic viewpoint: if Nigeria wants to pivot from being resource- and manufacturing-centric to services/digital-first, this project is indispensable.

The Risks, Limitations & Questions

No innovation of this scale is free from challenge. I flag several key issues:

• Governance and institutional risk – Even if Itana has its own brand of regulatory ease, it still sits within the bigger Nigerian context: currency risk, political risk, legal enforcement uncertainties. For a global firm, the question is whether the zone’s insulation is real.
• Equity and local integration – Will Itana become an isolated “digital enclave” benefiting only a few, without broad spill-over into the local economy? Are local businesses, workers and talent benefiting? If not, the model may aggravate inequalities.
• Infrastructure delivery – Promises of 24/7 power, dual fibre-optics, piped gas hinge on execution. If the physical layer falters, then the “digital zone” becomes less credible.
• Scalability and replicability – Can the model scale beyond Lagos, and can the regulatory/incentive model survive as more firms come in? There is the risk of rent-seeking, of incentives being watered down, or of the zone attracting “low-value” service firms rather than high-impact innovators.
• External competition and global positioning – Other African countries may seek to offer similar zones. Nigeria must maintain its competitive edge on cost, regulation, talent and infrastructure. If not, Itana may lose out.
• Capital repatriation/FX risk – One of the underlying advantages promised is multi-currency operations and capital movement. But Nigeria’s foreign-exchange regime is still complex, which could undermine this promise.

Implications for Policy, Investors & Ecosystem

For Government and Regulators:

• Must treat Itana not just as a real-estate or tech project but as a regulatory laboratory: immigration, taxation, labour laws, data protection, foreign ownership must align and be stable.
• Should think about integration: how to ensure spill-overs into the wider Nigerian economy, and that the zone doesn’t remain an island.
• Must monitor and report key metrics: jobs created, foreign capital inflow, exports of digital services, and local talent retention.

For Investors & Startups:

• Should assess jurisdictional risk carefully: what is the legal anchor of Itana’s incentives? Are they protected?
• Look at ecosystem strength: beyond infrastructure, what is the talent pool, what are the anchor companies, what’s the exit environment?
• Be aware of cost-benefit: Are the incentives meaningful compared to operating locally or in other jurisdictions?

For the Tech & Talent Ecosystem:

• Nigerian startups should view Itana as potential infrastructure, but not accept it as a replacement for building local capacity and networks.
• Universities, incubators and talent pipelines must feed into this model; otherwise, the zone may import talent rather than develop it locally.
• Digital services export must be pushed: the opportunity is not just in doing business in Nigeria, but serving global clients from Nigeria/Africa.

Comparative Models & Lessons from Abroad

Let’s briefly compare:

• Dubai Internet City (DIFC) – Offers streamlined regulation, physical infrastructure, regional hub status; success was aided by global connectivity and elite infrastructure.
• e‑Estonia – A micro-state digital-first model with e-residency, global incorporation, but benefiting from high institutional trust and digital culture.
• Delaware (USA) – Legal/regulatory jurisdiction favourable to incorporation, low tax burden, strong rule of law. 

The context matters hugely. Singapore, Dubai succeeded in part because they had stable institutions, strong enforcement, legal clarity. Nigeria doesn’t start from that level entirely, so the risk of “free zone in name only” is real. The success of Itana will depend heavily on execution, transparency, and legitimacy.

Roadmap & What to Watch

Key milestones and indicators:

• Completion of the physical campus: the 72,000 m² first district must be built and operational with promised infrastructure (power, connectivity) as of phase one. 
• Number of companies incorporated in Itana: especially foreign/foreign-founded service firms, and the volume of business they conduct from the zone. For example, “more than 70% of companies within Itana’s zone are diaspora-owned or foreign startups.” 
• Job creation outcome: the government-Itana MOU targets 100,000 high-value jobs over five years.
• Export of digital services: growth in services sold from Nigeria/Africa to global markets mediated via the zone.
• Spill-over metrics: talent retention, local start-ups using the infrastructure, integration with local industry, and whether tax incentives and regulatory clarity persist over time.
• Potential derailers: delayed infrastructure, policy reversals, changes in foreign-exchange regime, corruption or governance issues. 

If I were writing this article six months later, I’d look to these indicators to judge whether Itana is just a promising pilot or truly a transformational model for digital economies in Africa.

Itana has come at a sensitive moment for Nigeria and for Africa’s digital economy. It offers a path where regulatory limitations, infrastructure gaps and global competition are tackled through a purpose-built digital free zone. 

The opportunity is real, for foreign firms, for Nigerian talent, and for a continent seeking to leap ahead in services and tech rather than being stuck in resource-or manufacturing-led models.

But the goal will only be realised if execution matches ambition. I remain cautiously optimistic. If Itana successfully delivers on infrastructure, regulation, talent and integration, it could become a gateway for Africa’s sustainable digital growth. 

If it fails, it could become another isolated enclave, admired but limited in impact

However, Lagos is still the most prominent African city on the list and Nigeria’s single representative in the global top 100. 

The commercial hub scored 11.226 on the Index and recorded annual ecosystem growth of +14.7%, healthy growth by many measures, yet not enough to stop the slide in rank. 

At national level, Nigeria now sits 66th globally; the country recorded $176.4m in startup funding in 2024, has two unicorns, and counts 57 Y Combinator startups, but national ecosystem growth is +5.4%, and Nigeria slipped two places overall. 

Fintech is still the engine. The country “tops Africa’s unicorn charts” and the report reveals names you already know: Moniepoint and Flutterwave, both listed as unicorns and flagged among Lagos’ notable ecosystem champions (SB Scores: Moniepoint 669; Flutterwave 640). Nonetheless, the Index shows fintech’s success is concentrated: Lagos accounts for the vast majority of Nigeria’s startup growth. 

In simple terms, Lagos tops other cities across Nigeria. StartupBlink finds Lagos’s ecosystem is 11.8 times larger than Abuja’s, illustrating how national performance hinges on one city.

Abuja did, however, post extraordinary growth this cycle, climbing into the global top 400 at 399th with annual growth above 50%, the only Nigerian city to record a global climb in 2025. 

Other regional cities show mixed fortunes as Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt and a newly listed Ilorin appear in the top 1,000 but most recorded declines. 

There is momentum — and there are gaps. Lagos benefits from a dense support network: Lagos Angel Network, Growth Capital Fund, Ventures Platform and Greenhouse Capital all play visible roles, while non-profits such as FATE Foundation provide training and mentoring. 

The federal architecture has started to respond: the Nigerian Startup Act, a National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and a Startup Investment Seed Fund are now on the books. The government has also struck a public-private arrangement with JICA to seed a new fund. These steps matter; they show policy finally following promise. 

Infrastructure and capital remain the choke points. The report flags a shortage of financing options, low purchasing power, and a practical disconnect between Lagos and other local ecosystems. 

It notes that Nigeria’s internet quality has improved, Starlink came in during 2023, and that NigComSat’s 2024 accelerator has begun to seed activity in space and satellite technologies (20 startups were selected for intensive spacetech mentorship). Still, the broader infrastructure deficit and limited local capital markets hold back scaling. 

What this means for founders and investors

Lagos is still the gateway. If you are scaling a fintech or consumer startup with innovation across West Africa, Lagos offers the customers, talent and networks you need. 

But I’d caution founders to plan for friction; payments, purchasing power limitations and uneven support outside Lagos are real risks. The Index suggests diversification of hubs inside Nigeria must be a priority if the country wants comprehensive, resilient growth. 

A few immediate implications for policymakers and ecosystem builders (drawn from the report):

• Invest in road-and-digital infrastructure outside Lagos to reduce the games-of chance that currently shape who succeeds. 
• Scale financing instruments that target growth (not just seed), and encourage closer ties between Lagos capital and provincial startups.
• Sustain public-private programmes (like the JICA fund and NigComSat accelerator) that move beyond pilot stage into long-term commitments.

To close, the StartupBlink Index 2025 shows that Lagos is Africa’s headline startup ecosystem and Nigeria’s growth engine. However, the nation’s overall ranking and the concentration of success in one city expose strategic fragilities. 

If investors leverage Lagos as a launchpad, and aggressively invest in the next tier of cities, Nigerian entrepreneurship becomes broad, durable and not just Lagos-dependent.

As local and international guests descended on the nation’s commercial and innovation capital for a potentially future-defining two days, anticipation was high for the conversations shaping Africa’s digital trajectory.

From Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, the message on Wednesday was emphatic: Lagos is ‘a launchpad for Africa’s tomorrow’ – ready to propel Nigeria’s quest for a data-driven government and digitally empowered population. 

Held under the patronage of Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, GITEX NIGERIA takes place across Abuja and Lagos from 1-4 September.

Supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the event is endorsed by Lagos State Government and organised by KAOUN International, global producer of GITEX events.

Elaborating on Lagos’s digital economy leadership credentials and quest to harness technological capabilities for the betterment of regional society, H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated: “Lagos is not just a city for today – it is Africa’s innovation nerve centre and a launchpad for Africa’s tomorrow. At the heart of our efforts to unlock digital transformation possibilities is an unshakeable belief that governance in the 21st century must be digital, inclusive, and data-driven.

“As Peter Drucker once said, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it’. Here in Lagos, we are creating that future, building a data-driven government where policy decisions respond to real-time insights and inclusive connectivity empowers every citizen in one of the world’s most vibrant tech ecosystems.”

Over two action-packed days, Nigeria’s commercial capital and innovation hub hosts dual showcases across the city: the GITEX NIGERIA Tech Expo & Future Economy Conference at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, and the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival at the Landmark Centre.

Together, these platforms spotlight the immense digital potential of Lagos and the nation – enabling non-tech sectors to accelerate digitalisation roadmaps through enterprise-grade solutions while highlighting a burgeoning startup ecosystem, strong investor confidence, and valuable public-private partnership opportunities. 

Addressing GITEX NIGERIA attendees, Hon. Minister Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, emphasised the essential nature of sustained digital economy development, insisting: “The digital economy is not just about mobile apps or platforms; it is about technical efficiency and delivering productivity gains that transform entire sectors. This is why His Excellency President Bola Tinubu GCFR has placed the digital economy at the heart of the Renewed Hope agenda.

“His vision is very clear – that technology must not only grow GDP but also expand opportunities, reduce inequality, and create shared prosperity for all Nigerians. Under the President’s leadership, Nigeria has embraced the digital economy as a key driver of inclusive growth. We are not building just for elites; we are building for every Nigerian.”

Between 2019 and 2024, Lagos attracted over US$6 billion in foreign tech investment, cementing its position as the epicentre of Africa’s digital growth. The state today hosts hyperscale data centres and extensive fibre connectivity, accounting for more than 70% of Nigeria’s total tech inflows. Already Nigeria’s undisputed innovation hub, Lagos is also home to 23 of the country’s 28 fastest-growing companies, according to the Financial Times. 

Reflecting on the significance of GITEX NIGERIA making its way to Lagos, Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General/CEO of NITDA, said: “The energy is palpable, and the potential is boundless. Nigeria and Lagos in particular are a crucible of innovation, where raw talent meets the unshakeable will to succeed, a factory of unicorns.

“Lagos is the place where people use talent and come up with solutions without infrastructure. In other places, they use capital infrastructure to fuel innovation, while here, we use our resilience. Because we have no options, and we need to create the solutions. We are ready for it. As a nation, our vision is clear.”

GITEX NIGERIA is West Africa’s largest gathering of technology visionaries, industry leaders, and decision-makers overseeing digital transformation of non-tech sectors. The event also presents Nigeria’s largest and most globally diverse investor programme, facilitating concierge meetings between startups, investors, corporates, industry leaders, and prospective partners.

Discussing the unique value proposition that Lagos presents businesses, Trixie LohMirmand, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre and CEO of KAOUN International, organisers of GITEX NIGERIA, said: “Lagos is a mega high-speed technology testbed that is dense, diverse, and demanding, where SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs succeed not by conventional rules but by distinctiveness and necessity-driven innovation.

“Rising above power outages, currency fluctuations, and maturing infrastructure, they scale faster and endure longer. Survive and thrive in Lagos, and your products and solutions can compete and flourish anywhere around the world.”

The event runs with support from partners AWS, Cisco, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Kaspersky, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy; Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and Space42. 

For more information, news and updates on GITEX NIGERIA, please visit the website.