Policy blindspots threaten Nigeria’s .ng domain adoption, NiRA flags

Nigeria’s push to anchor its digital economy around the local .ng internet domain is facing significant hurdles, as gaps in policy and implementation threaten the country’s online identity and digital sovereignty, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) said.

Adesola Akinsanya, NiRA president, warned that while Nigeria has made strides in expanding internet access and digital services, policy frameworks have failed to prioritize the governance, growth, and ownership of the nation’s internet space.

“Digital transformation is more than access to technology. It’s about identity, control, and ensuring that the economic value generated online remains in Nigeria. Our policies have overlooked the strategic role of the .ng domain, leaving critical aspects of national digital infrastructure underutilized,” Akinsanya said.

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Signed in 2025, the Nigeria First Policy mandates that government agencies, ministries, departments, and critical sectors migrate to .ng domains and host a significant portion of their data locally. However, adoption has been slow, with many institutions still operating on foreign domains and hosting services abroad.

NiRA officials argue that this delay undermines both national cybersecurity and economic retention. Each foreign domain registration channels revenue outside Nigeria, while local adoption could strengthen domestic data centers, reduce latency, and bolster investor confidence in Nigerian digital services.

“Local domains like .ng are the backbone of digital trust. They reinforce legitimacy for businesses, government institutions, and the growing fintech and e-commerce sectors. Without strong policy enforcement, we risk creating a digital economy that thrives on Nigerian talent but is monetized elsewhere,” Akinsanya affirmed.

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The association’s warning comes amid reports that, despite growing internet penetration, only a fraction of government websites have migrated to the .ng namespace. Analysts say this creates a credibility gap, slows digital innovation, and weakens Nigeria’s presence in the global online economy.

NiRA is calling for targeted measures to drive awareness, encourage adoption, and protect local domain ownership. Recommendations include stronger procurement mandates for public sector platforms, incentives for SMEs to adopt .ng domains, and expanded support for domestic data hosting providers.

“The value of a nation’s digital identity cannot be overstated. Every .ng domain registered locally is a step toward economic retention, cybersecurity, and true digital sovereignty. Policy blindspots are the real threat to Nigeria’s internet identity today,” Akinsanya asserted.

With Africa’s largest population increasingly moving online, experts say Nigeria’s ability to reclaim its internet space could have long-term implications for job creation, investment inflows, and the sustainability of the digital economy.