Slow.ng Domain Adoption Threatens Digital Identity Goals—Stakeholders

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s internet sector have warned that slow adoption of the country’s domain name uptake could undermine efforts to build a robust digital identity.

The concerns were raised at the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, where industry players, policymakers and civil society groups reviewed the performance of the .ng country code top-level domain, thereby, calling for stronger policy frameworks to accelerate the adoption.

Participant commended the Association for maintaining stability of the registry, discussions at the meeting shifted towards the broader issue of low local domain adoption and the absence of binding institutional policies to drive growth.

Stakeholders described the .ng domain as a strategic national asset that remains underutilised despite Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s largest internet markets.

In her remark, president of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, emphasised the importance of local domain adoption in strengthening Nigeria’s digital footprint.

“.ng is more than a domain it is Nigeria’s digital identity. Our focus remains on strengthening trust, driving adoption, and ensuring that Nigeria fully benefits from its internet ecosystem. Every organisation that registers under .ng is not just building a website; they are investing in the sovereignty and credibility of Nigeria’s presence in the global digital economy,” he said.

Findings presented at the meeting suggested that although the .ng registry has recorded steady growth and operational resilience, adoption among businesses particularly small and medium enterprises remains below expectations.

The participants argued that reliance on organic growth alone may not deliver the scale required to compete globally, calling instead for deliberate policy interventions.

Meanwhile, a key recommendation was the integration of domain registration into business processes handled by the Corporate Affairs Commission, a move stakeholders say could significantly increase uptake.

Past president of NiRA, Muhammed Rudman, said the necessary structures are already in place but lack coordination.

“Adoption of .ng among new businesses must be driven through policy and institutional alignment. The frameworks already exist what is needed is coordinated political will and cross-agency collaboration to translate intent into action,” he stated.

There were also calls for government-led incentives and regulatory backing to position .ng as the default digital identity for Nigerian entities, alongside stronger public sector adoption to boost confidence.

On her part, chief operating officer of NiRA, Oluwaseyi Onasanya, noted that the registry has focused on building resilience and trust but acknowledged the need to expand its reach.

“We have continued to build a resilient and secure registry that supports businesses, innovators, and institutions across Nigeria. Our priority is to deepen adoption, expand our stakeholder base, and create greater value throughout the .ng ecosystem. The growth trajectory we are on reflects the hard work of our team and the trust our members continue to place in us,” she said.

Stakeholders also pointed to the broader implications for Nigeria’s digital economy, which is beyond its adoption concerns. Even as they warned that failure to prioritise local domain usage could limit data sovereignty, weaken digital branding, and reduce economic value retention within the country.

Commenting, member of the Board of Trustees, Biyi Oladipo, described NiRA as a model for multi-stakeholder collaboration but stressed the need to consolidate gains through policy support.

He said the Association has “sustained effective collaboration with government over the years, as such a framework positions Nigeria more prominently on the global digital map”

Consequently, the stakeholders insist that aligning policy, infrastructure, and institutional processes around the .ng domain will be critical to strengthening Nigeria’s online identity and global competitiveness.