From Growth To Security: Nigeria’s .ng Domain Names Enter A New Digital Era

By TOSI ORE

NIGERIA’S digital identity has reached a new milestone as the number of registered .ng domain names officially crossed 250,000.

The Nigerian Internet Registration Association, NiRA, said the growth reflects a sharp rise in new registrations and stronger retention among existing domain owners.

NiRA President, Adesola Akinsanya, said July emerged as the strongest month for .ng domain growth in 2026.

Active registrations rose from 243,953 in June to 249,897 by the end of July. That represented an increase of 5,944 domains in one month.

The figure also placed Nigeria just 103 registrations away from the 250,000 mark.

However, the milestone was crossed in early August after registrars recorded more than 3,000 additional registrations.

The development marks a significant expansion of Nigeria’s online footprint at a time when more businesses, organisations and individuals are moving their activities into the digital space.

Record July Growth

NiRA recorded 11,044 new domain registrations in July alone.

The registry also recorded 6,766 renewals during the same period.

Together, accredited registrars processed 17,810 registration and renewal transactions. NiRA described the figure as its highest monthly volume so far in 2026.

Akinsanya said the achievement reflected the combined efforts of NiRA, domain registrars and Nigerians seeking to establish stronger online identities.

He added that the growth showed increasing recognition of the .ng extension as an important part of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

For businesses, a local domain name can strengthen brand identity and establish a clearer connection with the Nigerian market.

For individuals and institutions, it also provides a distinct national presence in an increasingly crowded global digital environment.

NiRA said it would continue efforts to make .ng domains more accessible, secure and useful.

Retention Supports the Growth

The July figures also showed that the growth did not come from new registrations alone.

Fewer domain owners abandoned or allowed their domains to expire.

NiRA Chief Operating Officer, Seyi Onasanya, said domain deletions fell to 5,646 in July, the lowest monthly figure recorded in 2026.

Expired domains accounted for 31.7 per cent of overall domain turnover in July.

That represented a major improvement from 42.7 per cent in June and more than 50 per cent during the first five months of the year.

The decline suggests that more users are renewing their domains instead of allowing them to lapse.

This matters because sustained growth depends not only on attracting new users but also on retaining existing ones.

Onasanya urged registrars to strengthen customer engagement through early renewal reminders, expiry notifications and multi-year registration options.

Direct .ng & .com.ng Record Growth

The increase cut across different categories of the Nigerian domain system.

Direct .ng domains, also known as second-level domains, recorded 4,659 new registrations and 2,357 renewals in July.

Third-level domains, such as .com.ng addresses, recorded 6,385 new registrations and 4,409 renewals.

The figures show that Nigerians are adopting different forms of the country’s domain extension.

While direct .ng domains are often seen as premium digital identities, third-level domains remain popular among businesses, organisations and individuals seeking more affordable online addresses.

The growth across both categories points to a broader expansion of Nigeria’s internet economy.

Security Remains a Major Challenge

Despite the milestone, NiRA said cybersecurity adoption remains an important concern.

The association urged registrars to adopt Domain Name System Security Extensions, known as DNSSEC.

The technology helps protect domain names against manipulation and identity spoofing.

However, only 15 out of Nigeria’s 164 accredited registrars had enabled DNSSEC as of the latest figures released by NiRA.

That represents just 9.15 per cent of accredited registrars.

The low adoption rate highlights a gap between the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and the security measures needed to protect it.

As more businesses and government institutions depend on websites and online services, domain security will become increasingly important.

Nigeria’s crossing of the 250,000 .ng domain threshold therefore represents more than a numerical achievement.

It signals growing participation in the digital economy.

The next challenge will be to sustain that growth, reduce domain abandonment and strengthen the security systems supporting Nigeria’s expanding online identity.