The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has recorded more than 241,000 active .ng domain registrations, as stakeholders intensify efforts to deepen the adoption of Nigeria’s country code top-level domain and strengthen the nation’s digital identity.
The milestone was disclosed as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) endorsed NiRA’s 2026 strategic expansion plan, underscoring the growing importance of local digital infrastructure in Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.
Speaking on the achievement, President of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, said the association was shifting its focus from growth in registrations to achieving widespread adoption across businesses, government institutions, educational establishments and individual users.
According to Akinsanya, the .ng domain represents far more than a web address, describing it as a strategic national asset capable of strengthening Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and online identity.
“.ng is more than a domain; it is Nigeria’s digital identity. Our focus remains on strengthening trust, driving adoption, and ensuring that Nigeria fully benefits from its internet ecosystem,” Akinsanya said.
He noted that despite steady growth in registrations over recent years, significant opportunities remain to expand the use of .ng domains among Nigerian businesses and institutions that continue to rely heavily on foreign domain extensions.
Commenting, director general of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described local domain adoption as a critical component of Nigeria’s digital transformation strategy, stressing that ownership of digital assets is increasingly linked to economic competitiveness and national security.
Inuwa said Nigeria must continue to build and control critical digital infrastructure to secure its place in the global digital economy.
According to him, wider adoption of the .ng domain will help strengthen local content development, enhance trust in Nigerian digital services and support government efforts to build a resilient digital economy.
The development comes amid growing concerns over Africa’s dependence on foreign digital infrastructure. NiRA recently warned that more than 90 per cent of internet traffic generated within Africa is routed through servers located outside the continent, raising concerns about data sovereignty, cybersecurity and economic value retention.
Industry data show that adoption of the .ng domain has maintained a consistent upward trajectory. NiRA reported more than 231,000 registrations by late 2024, reflecting growing acceptance of local digital identities among businesses and internet users.
Similarly, analysts argue that increased adoption of local domains could help address some of these challenges by promoting local hosting, improving digital trust and keeping more internet-related economic activity within Nigeria.
The push also aligns with broader government efforts to strengthen digital identity systems and expand Nigeria’s digital economy. The .ng domain, introduced in 1995 and managed by NiRA, serves as Nigeria’s official country code top-level domain and is regarded as a key component of the country’s internet governance framework.
Meanwhile, stakeholders at recent industry engagements have called for stronger policy support to accelerate adoption, including closer collaboration between NiRA and government agencies to integrate .ng registration into business incorporation processes. They argue that such measures could significantly increase uptake among small and medium-sized enterprises.
For Nigeria, being Africa’s largest digital market by population, the growing adoption of .ng domains is viewed as part of a broader conversation around digital sovereignty, local content development and the country’s ability to retain greater value from its rapidly expanding online economy.
