By Martin Ekpeke
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) has formally aligned itself with international efforts to combat Domain Name System (DNS) abuse, emphasizing that a coordinated global action is essential to maintaining the integrity of the digital economy.
In a recent newsletter address to stakeholders, NIRA President Mr. Adesola Akinsanya highlighted the association’s commitment to evolving its registry oversight in line with new global standards, specifically those emerging from recent high-level engagements like ICANN 85.
A central theme of NIRA’s new strategic direction is the implementation of DNS abuse-related contractual amendments. These changes, according to the organization, empower ICANN with enhanced auditing capabilities, a move Akinsanya noted is already showing early indicators of success through improved responsiveness from registrars.
However, the President pointed out a technical reality often misunderstood by the public: the limitations of registrar enforcement.
“When acting on verified abuse, the primary tool available to a registrar is the suspension of the domain name. This is not a granular intervention; it affects all services tied to that domain, including websites and email systems,” Akinsanya explained.
Because of this all-or-nothing technical constraint, NIRA is positioning the Registry, the operator of the .ng namespace as the critical governance layer that ensures accredited registrars adhere to strict global best practices and local policies.
NIRA’s push for a more secure DNS is not happening in isolation. The President revealed that the .ng team recently participated in a ccTLD (Country Code Top-Level Domain) capacity-building programme in Kenya.
This regional collaboration focused on enhancing DNS management and technical infrastructure through registry operations. It also prioritized policy development to craft responsive frameworks for cybersecurity. Furthermore, the engagement aimed to strengthen the multistakeholder model of governance by enhancing stakeholder engagement.
“There is immense value in regional collaboration where solutions are not only technically sound but also contextually relevant to the African environment,” Akinsanya stated, noting that the insights gained in Kenya will be directly applied to the .ng registry operations.
Despite the focus on security and mitigation, NIRA reports significant growth in the Nigerian domain space. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the association successfully onboarded eight new registrars, signaling a surge in market confidence.
As Nigeria continues to expand its digital footprint, Akinsanya remains firm that “trust must remain at the center.” By aligning with global standards and fostering a robust local ecosystem, NIRA aims to ensure that the .ng domain remains a resilient and competitive identity for Nigerian individuals and businesses on the global stage.
“DNS abuse mitigation is not the responsibility of any single actor. It requires coordinated action across registries, registrars, policymakers, and the broader Internet community,” Akinsanya concluded.