By Nkechi Eze
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has approved the 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Business Plan of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), reaffirming its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital economy and expanding the adoption of local internet domains across the country.
The approval was granted during a strategic engagement at NITDA Headquarters in Abuja, where the President of NiRA, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, led members of the association’s Board to present its vision and operational roadmap for 2026 to the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.
The endorsement marks a significant step toward strengthening collaboration between both organisations in promoting the widespread use of the .ng domain name and enhancing Nigeria’s digital presence on the global internet landscape.
Speaking during the meeting, Inuwa pledged NITDA’s full support for the implementation of the initiatives outlined in the business plan and directed NiRA to work closely with the Agency’s e-Governance and Digital Economy Department to ensure seamless execution, regular monitoring, and effective project tracking.
“You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us change our strategy, sync up more closely, and ensure everything we have agreed upon during this presentation is fully implemented by next year,” the NITDA Director-General stated.
Presenting NiRA’s performance report, Akinsanya highlighted the association’s achievements in 2025, revealing that 98,285 new domain registrations, 71,470 renewals, and 1,970 restorations were recorded during the year. He added that the total number of active .ng domains currently stands at 241,000.
Beyond registration growth, he noted that NiRA strengthened Nigeria’s internet infrastructure through key security enhancements, including the implementation of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), aimed at improving the security, stability, and resilience of online services for local users. He also pointed to improvements in registrar support services and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Looking ahead, Akinsanya disclosed that NiRA is intensifying efforts to position .ng and .gov.ng domains as the preferred digital identity platforms for government institutions, businesses, and citizens nationwide. He called for increased collaboration with NITDA in driving awareness campaigns and digital capacity-building programmes targeted at state governments, local government councils, and public institutions.
The NiRA President further revealed that the association is modernising its internal operations through automation, system upgrades, and constitutional reforms designed to align its governance framework with international best practices and support sustainable growth.
According to him, NiRA is also deepening stakeholder engagement and expanding its reach within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by targeting startups and participating in technology-focused events across the country.
“NiRA is looking into deeper stakeholder engagement and moving into areas where we see massive possibilities. We are specifically targeting startups and aligning with tech events across the country. With stronger collaboration, we can drive widespread adoption across every tier of government,” Akinsanya said.
The renewed partnership between NITDA and NiRA is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, enhancing cybersecurity, promoting local content development, and accelerating the country’s journey toward a robust and inclusive digital economy.
