Nigeria Pushes for Wider Adoption of “.ng” Domain to Strengthen Digital Identity
Nigeria’s Senate, NITDA, and BPP are leading a new national push for wider use of the “.ng” domain to boost digital identity, cybersecurity, and online trust.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is taking a major step toward improving the country’s digital identity by encouraging the use of Nigeria’s own internet domain “.ng”.
At the recent Tech Convergence 2.0 event held in Abuja, key government agencies, including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and members of the Nigerian Senate, called for full adoption of the “.ng” domain by both public and private organisations.
The event, organised by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), focused on how Nigeria can strengthen its digital sovereignty and ensure that the nation’s online presence truly represents its identity.
Why the “.ng” Domain Is Important
The “.ng” domain is Nigeria’s official internet address just like “.uk” for the United Kingdom or “.us” for the United States.
However, many government agencies, businesses, and even schools in Nigeria still use foreign domains like “.com” or “.org”.
Officials say this must change.
“We must take ownership of our presence online, and for us, the true mark of that ownership is through the .ng domain,” said Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was represented at the event by Senator Diket Plang.
NITDA officials also noted that adopting the “.ng” domain would make government websites more trustworthy, safer, and better protected under Nigerian laws.
Government Agencies to Lead by Example
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has announced that it will ensure all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) use “.ng” for their websites and emails.
This move will help the public know that they are dealing with legitimate government platforms reducing scams and fake websites.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is also working with NiRA to simplify the process for registering and hosting .ng domains, especially for small businesses and startups.
Private Sector Also Encouraged to Adopt “.ng”
Beyond government agencies, the private sector is being urged to join the campaign.
NiRA President Adesola Akinsanya explained that using the “.ng” domain is not just about national pride it is also about boosting the local digital economy.
“The .ng domain is a symbol of Nigeria’s digital confidence and innovation. When local companies use it, they help build our digital economy,” she said.
She also added that businesses that adopt “.ng” are more likely to gain the trust of Nigerian customers and rank better in local online searches.
The Bigger Picture Nigeria’s Digital Future
Experts believe that a stronger digital identity can help Nigeria attract more foreign investments in the tech sector.
It can also make the country a leading digital hub in Africa by 2030 one of the key goals of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Adopting “.ng” will also:
Protect Nigeria’s data sovereignty
Improve cybersecurity
Promote the “Made in Nigeria” brand globally
Create opportunities for local web hosting and IT jobs
The campaign fits into President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a “Nigeria-first” digital economy that supports homegrown solutions.
What Happens Next
NITDA and NiRA are expected to roll out new awareness campaigns to educate the public about how to register and use “.ng” domains.
They are also working with internet service providers to make registration faster and cheaper.
Government agencies are expected to start migrating their websites from foreign domains to “.ng” soon.
As Nigeria’s online presence grows, the hope is that more citizens, entrepreneurs, and institutions will proudly identify as part of the Nigerian digital space using “.ng” as a mark of authenticity.
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