Emma Okonji
The adoption and use of Nigeria’s .ng domain name in the cyberspace maintained steady growth in the months of December 2023 and January 2024, with a further growth to reach 217,527 in February 2024, 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).
According to the statistics, the total .ng domain name registration, renewal and restoration, reached 212,890 in December 2023, and further increased to 215,496 in January 2024, before reaching 217,527 in February 2024.
Last year, THISDAY also reported a steady growth in the total number of registration, renewal and restoration for the .ng domain name, which grew from 193,085 in May 2023 to 195,098 and 198,294 in June and July 2023 respectively, with a further rise to 201,442; 203,904; and 206,970 in August, September and October 2023 respectively. It also increased slightly in November 2023.
According to the latest statistics, the .ng domain name registration alone, reached 8,134 in December 2023, and it increased to 10,087 in January 2024, before sliding to 8,258 in February 2024. The .ng domain name renewal alone was 4,796 in December 2023, and it increased to 6,409 in January 2024, before sliding to 4,915 in February 2024, while the .ng domain name restoration alone was 117 in December 2023 and increased to 166 in January 2024 before sliding to 120 in February 2024.
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, 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.
In Nigeria, NiRA has carried out several campaigns to sensitise Nigerians on the need to populate the .ng domain name, including the reduction in the cost of the .ng domain name.
Giving reasons for the continuous increase in the adoption rate and use of the .ng domain name across the county in the past one year, the President of NiRA, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, told THISDAY that the strategic collaborations between NiRA and some government agencies, aimed at populating Nigeria’s .ng domain name, were largely responsible.
According to him, NiRA holds a pivotal role as the steward of Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), a crucial element in advancing the nation’s digital ecosystem, adding that NiRA recognises the significance of collaborating with strategic partners who share in NiRA’s vision and can assist in achieving its vital objective.
“Our commitment to innovation and the pivotal role of the .ng domain has been underscored by remarkable growth, fueled by impactful collaborations that have driven meaningful change in the Nigerian internet ecosystem,” Akinsanya said.
