The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has approved the 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Business Plan of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), reinforcing efforts to expand local domain adoption and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
The approval was granted during a strategic meeting at NITDA headquarters in Abuja, where NiRA President, Adesola Akinsanya, led members of the association’s board to present its vision and roadmap for 2026 to NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.
Following the presentation, both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration to accelerate the adoption of the .ng domain name across Nigeria and support the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.
To ensure effective implementation of the approved business plan, Inuwa directed NiRA to work closely with NITDA’s e-Governance and Digital Economy Department, stressing the need for continuous engagement, regular progress updates, and robust project monitoring.
“You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us refine our strategy, strengthen our collaboration, and ensure that all the objectives outlined during this presentation are fully implemented by next year,” the NITDA Director-General said.
Highlighting the association’s performance in 2025, Akinsanya revealed that NiRA recorded 98,285 new domain registrations, 71,470 renewals, and 1,970 domain restorations, bringing the total number of active .ng domains to more than 241,000.
He noted that beyond registration growth, NiRA implemented significant security enhancements, including the deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), aimed at improving the security, reliability, and resilience of Nigeria’s internet ecosystem. The association also strengthened registrar support and stakeholder engagement throughout the year.
Looking ahead, Akinsanya said NiRA is intensifying efforts to position .ng and .gov.ng as the preferred domain choices for businesses, government institutions, and public organisations across the country.
He commended NITDA for its continued support and called for expanded joint awareness campaigns and digital capacity-building initiatives to encourage greater adoption of official Nigerian domains among state governments, local councils, and public institutions.
According to him, NiRA is also modernising its operations through increased automation, internal system upgrades, and constitutional reforms designed to align the association with global best practices and ensure long-term sustainability.
“NiRA is deepening stakeholder engagement and exploring new growth opportunities across the digital ecosystem. We are specifically targeting startups and aligning with technology-focused events nationwide. With stronger collaboration, we can drive widespread adoption of .ng domains across all levels of government and the private sector,” Akinsanya said.
The approval of NiRA’s 2026 Business Plan marks another step in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure, promote local internet identity, and drive greater participation in the digital economy.
