NITDA Backs NiRA’s 2026 Growth Plan, Targets Surge in .ng Domain Adoption

Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, receives the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) Annual Report from its President, Adesola Akinsanya, after a briefing on the Association’s yearly activities, milestones, and ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internet and digital landscape.

..... As Inuwa directs NiRA to work closely with NITDA's e-Governance and Digital Economy Department to ensure seamless implementation of the initiatives through continuous monitoring, project tracking, and regular progress updates.

...... Says "You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us change our strategy, sync up more closely, and ensure everything we have agreed upon during this presentation is fully implemented by next year." 

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has endorsed the 2026 business expansion plan of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), setting the stage for an aggressive push to increase the adoption of Nigeria’s country code top-level domain, .ng, as part of efforts to accelerate the nation's digital economy.

The approval was granted at NITDA headquarters in Abuja during a strategic meeting where NiRA President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, led members of the association's board to present its 2026 roadmap to NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.

The endorsement signals a renewed partnership between both organisations aimed at expanding the use of .ng and .gov.ng domains across government institutions, businesses, startups, and other sectors of the economy.

Speaking after approving the plan, Inuwa directed NiRA to work closely with NITDA's e-Governance and Digital Economy Department to ensure seamless implementation of the initiatives through continuous monitoring, project tracking, and regular progress updates.

"You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us change our strategy, sync up more closely, and ensure everything we have agreed upon during this presentation is fully implemented by next year," the NITDA boss said.

The move comes against the backdrop of significant growth recorded by NiRA in 2025. According to Akinsanya, the association registered 98,285 new domain names during the year, while 71,470 domains were renewed and 1,970 restored, bringing the total number of active domains under its management to about 241,000.

Beyond registration growth, NiRA also strengthened the security of Nigeria's internet ecosystem through the deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), a technology designed to protect internet users against cyber threats and enhance trust in online transactions.

The association further improved support systems for accredited registrars and strengthened stakeholder engagement to improve service delivery.

As part of its 2026 agenda, NiRA plans to intensify efforts to position .ng and .gov.ng as the preferred digital identities for organisations and public institutions nationwide. The strategy includes awareness campaigns, capacity-building programmes, and targeted engagement with state governments, local councils, and federal agencies.

Akinsanya commended NITDA for its sustained support and stressed the need for stronger collaboration to deepen digital adoption across all tiers of government.

He disclosed that the association is also upgrading its internal systems through automation and institutional reforms, including a review of its constitution to align operations with international best practices and support long-term growth.

According to him, NiRA is expanding its engagement with critical stakeholders, particularly within Nigeria's thriving technology ecosystem, with plans to leverage startup communities and technology events to drive wider acceptance of the .ng domain.

"NiRA is looking into deeper stakeholder engagement and moving into areas where we see massive possibilities. We are specifically targeting startups and aligning with tech events across the country. With stronger collaboration, we can drive widespread adoption across every tier of government," Akinsanya said.

Industry observers say the strengthened alliance between NITDA and NiRA could play a critical role in boosting Nigeria's digital sovereignty, enhancing online security, and encouraging more organisations to adopt locally managed internet identities as the country advances its digital transformation agenda.