The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has endorsed the 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Business Plan of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), reaffirming its commitment to deepening Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and promoting wider adoption of the nation’s country-code top-level domain, .ng.
The approval was granted during a strategic meeting held at NITDA Headquarters in Abuja, where NiRA President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, led members of the association’s Board to present the organisation’s vision and roadmap for 2026 to NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.
Following the presentation, both organisations reiterated their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at accelerating the adoption of the .ng domain name across Nigeria and advancing the country’s digital economy objectives.
To ensure seamless execution of the approved initiatives, Inuwa directed NiRA to work closely with NITDA’s E-Governance and Digital Economy Department through regular engagement, progress monitoring, and project tracking mechanisms.
“You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us refine our strategy, align more closely, and ensure that all the resolutions reached during this presentation are fully implemented before next year,” Inuwa stated.
Highlighting NiRA’s achievements over the past year, Akinsanya disclosed that the association recorded 98,285 new domain registrations, 71,470 renewals, and 1,970 restorations in 2025, bringing the total number of active .ng domains to over 241,000.
He noted that beyond the impressive growth figures, NiRA implemented key security enhancements, including the deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), aimed at strengthening the security, integrity, and resilience of Nigeria’s internet ecosystem. The association also improved registrar support services and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Speaking on the organisation’s future direction, Akinsanya revealed that NiRA is intensifying efforts to position .ng and .gov.ng domains as the preferred digital identities for businesses, government institutions, and public-sector organisations nationwide.
He commended NITDA for its continued support and called for joint awareness campaigns, advocacy programmes, and digital capacity-building initiatives to encourage greater adoption among state governments, local government councils, and public institutions.
According to him, NiRA is also modernising its internal operations through enhanced automation, system upgrades, and constitutional reforms designed to align the association with global best practices and ensure sustainable growth.
“NiRA is deepening stakeholder engagement and expanding into sectors where we see significant opportunities for growth. We are particularly targeting startups and aligning our activities with major technology events across the country. Through stronger collaboration with NITDA and other stakeholders, we can drive widespread adoption of the .ng domain across every tier of government and the broader digital ecosystem,” Akinsanya said.
The approval of NiRA’s 2026 Business Plan marks another significant step in Nigeria’s drive toward a more secure, resilient, and digitally inclusive economy, while strengthening local internet identity through increased adoption of the .ng domain.
