Thousands of AI-driven, solar-powered street lights are set to help finance construction of Nigeria’s coastal highway
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Nigeria’s long-delayed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is set to be rescued by thousands of AI-driven, solar-powered streetlights that can simultaneously turn it into a revenue-generating asset.
British greentech firm Conflow Power Group, working in partnership with Nigerian infrastructure company Mora Energy, has announced a plan under discussion with the Nigerian Government to solve the highway’s financing crisis, by providing thousands of iLamps – solar-powered streetlights that double as an AI data centre.
To power the lights, no external electricity supply is required. Every iLamp is packed with Nvidia AI processors, meaning they provide significant revenue because AI providers such as OpenAI pay for the processing power.
Deployed across the 700km highway, the proposed 28,000 iLamps would generate $1.26 billion in annual revenue, helping to fund construction of the highway.
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The smart streetlights also provide high-efficiency LED lighting, surveillance cameras, vehicle recognition, emergency response systems, public connectivity and environmental monitoring – all powered entirely by solar energy.
Through a partnership with British firm AI Factories, each iLamp unit becomes a singular ‘node’ in an AI computing network, generating up to US$4,500 annually paid by AI firms.
‘The financial mathematics are compelling,’ said CEO of iLamp Africa Zainu Goba. ‘iLamp doesn’t just provide lighting and security, it creates a new revenue stream that could contribute more than a billion dollars towards project costs annually.’
‘Combined with zero operational costs through solar power, this improves the project’s attractiveness to private investors and has the potential to positively transform the lives of millions of Nigerians.’
Under the new proposal, revenue generation would begin as soon as sections of the highway are completed, reducing reliance on tolling and public funding.
First proposed in the 1970s, the highway in Nigeria is designed to connect nine coastal states, helping to grow tourism and trade across southern Nigeria. However, despite its importance, the project has repeatedly been delayed due to funding shortfalls, political changes and economic instability.
Construction did resume in 2024, but just US$747million has so far been secured, less than six per cent of the estimated US$11–12.5 billion total cost. As such, there are still acute fears that the project could again stall.
