Nigeria’s .ng Domain Name Registration Drags, Records Net Increase of 1,121 in February

Emma Okonji

The registration and renewal of Nigeria’s .ng domain name took a downward trend with a record of 1,121 new domain name registrations in the month of February 2026, according to the latest statistics released by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

The net increase of 1,121 domain registrations, showed a drop in the volume of registrations, when compared with previous statistics on domain name registrations and renewals that were released by NiRA.   

From previous statistics, fresh .ng domain name registrations reached 10,047, while renewals of existing .ng domain names reached 5,816 in December 2025. 

In November 2025, a total of 17,385 .ng domain activities were recorded during the month, comprising new registrations and renewals. The performance in November registrations according to NiRA, underscored the steady expansion of the .ng namespace and its increasing relevance as a trusted digital identity for Nigerian individuals and organisations.

Although NiRA did not give the total domain name registrations recorded as at February this year, previous statistics however showed that the total .ng domain name registration, renewal and restoration, reached 234,083 in January 2025, but dropped slightly to 232,853 in February 2025, with a further drop to 231,556 in March 2025, before dropping again to 229,250 in April 2025.

The ccTLD .ng domain name is Nigeria’s identity in cyberspace, which has the .ng at the suffix of every official email address that originates from Nigeria. In the United Kingdom, all official email addresses end with .co.uk. In United States of America, they end with .com, while in South Africa, the official email addresses end with .co.za.

But despite industry perceived views about the decline in domain name registrations and renewals, NiRA is of the view that the 1,121 domain name registrations recorded in February this year signaled a growing confidence in Nigeria’s local internet ecosystem and a rising awareness of the importance of owning a distinct digital identity.

According to a statement from NiRA, “Over 80 per cent of the 1,121 new registrations in February 2026, representing 839 domains, were recorded across industry-focused extensions such as .com.ng, .org.ng, .name.ng, .gov.ng, and .edu.ng. This concentration reflects a more intentional approach to domain adoption, where individuals, businesses, and institutions are aligning their online presence with clearly defined identities and functions.”

The statement further said: “Notably, commercial domains continue to drive this growth. More than 60 per cent of the 839 industry-focused registrations were within commercial extensions such as .com.ng, highlighting a strong shift among Nigerian businesses toward establishing credible and structured digital platforms. This signals that more businesses are moving beyond reliance on social media platforms and are instead investing in owned digital assets that enhance trust, improve discoverability, and strengthen brand positioning.”

At the same time, the adoption of domains such as .gov.ng and .edu.ng indicates a strengthening of trusted digital presence across government and educational institutions, further reinforcing confidence in the .ng ecosystem.

The February 2026 figures point to more than just numerical growth, they reflect a maturing digital landscape where ownership, trust, and national identity are becoming central to how Nigerians engage online,” the statement further said.

In his February message to Nigeria’s domain name community, tagged: ‘Strengthening Trust, Capacity and Growth in Nigeria’s Internet Ecosystem’ the President of NiRA, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, noted that the .ng team has returned with significant knowledge and insights, which, according to him, will be applied to further strengthen the registry operations, enhance policy frameworks, and improve overall approach to Domain Name System (DNS) management and security, adding that one of the most critical conversations shaping the future of the internet today is the growing challenge of DNS abuse and the collective responsibility required to address it.

“Nigeria’s participation in the recent ccTLD capacity building programme in Kenya provided a valuable opportunity to engage, learn, and collaborate with fellow African registry operators. The programme focused on critical areas including registry operations and DNS management, policy development, cybersecurity and DNS abuse mitigation, stakeholder engagement, and multi-stakeholder governance, as well as strategic registry growth and sustainability.

What made the engagement particularly impactful was its African context. It allowed us to learn not just from global frameworks, but from the practical experiences of peer registries operating within similar environments and challenges,” Akinsanya said.