By Martin Ekpeke
While Nigeria has made significant strides in digital transformation, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) has raised a critical alarm that historic policy frameworks have neglected the very foundation of the nation’s online territory.
In a recent newsletter, NIRA President Mr. Adesola Akinsanya argued that while technology drives change, Nigeria has historically failed to prioritize the governance and ownership of its own internet space, specifically the .ng country-code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD).
According to Akinsanya, Nigeria’s digital journey has focused heavily on infrastructure and skills but has left a clear gap in addressing how national internet assets fit into sovereignty goals.
“For years, national digital identity was treated as an afterthought rather than a foundational infrastructure. This neglect has led to a reliance on foreign domains, resulting in capital flight and a diluted national online identity,” he said.
The emergence of the Nigeria First Policy (2025) is described as a digitized patriotism blueprint designed to reclaim this lost territory. The 2025 policy mandates a shift from passive consumption to active national prioritization.
This is not protectionism, but a strategic move to ensure Nigeria owns the digital rails it operates on. Several key mandates define this new direction. All government agencies and critical sectors are now required to transition to .ng domains to reclaim Nigeria’s identity from foreign domains like .com or .net. Nigerian data must also be stored in domestic data centers to reduce latency, curb capital flight, and strengthen cybersecurity. Additionally, the Bureau of Public Procurement is now embedding .ng usage into the framework of all public-facing digital services.
Akinsanya maintains that the .ng domain is much more than a naming system, as it serves as a digital sovereignty engine comparable to the Naira or the +234 country code. Every .ng registration keeps value within the country and contributes directly to the national GDP instead of enriching foreign registries. Specific domains like .gov.ng and .edu.ng provide instant institutional legitimacy while ensuring that data stays within national borders. Furthermore, through DNSSEC deployment, the .ng registry provides a secure environment that mitigates domain hijacking and other cyber threats.
Despite the progress of the Nigeria First Policy, NIRA emphasizes that policies must be living and responsive. The President called for expanded, targeted support focused on awareness and the protection of the .ng domain.
“Digital identity, trust, and control of data all begin with where and how Nigeria is represented online,” Akinsanya stated.
For Nigeria to scale its digital ambitions, the .ng domain must be recognized not just as a technical tool, but as a critical pillar of national security and economic independence.