The reduction follows a decision by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ordering its workers to use .ng for official communications.
Nigeria’s online footprint widened in January as 6,155 businesses registered third-level .ng domains, underscoring a steady shift toward locally anchored digital identities amid a broader push for data sovereignty.
Figures released by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), which manages Nigeria’s country-code top-level domain, showed that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounted for nearly three-quarters of the 8,111 new .ng registrations recorded during the month.
In total, the registry logged 15,216 domain transactions, including 7,105 renewals, a sign that existing registrants are maintaining their digital presence rather than allowing it to lapse.
Adesola Akinsanya, president of NiRA, said the figures reflect a deeper shift in how Nigerian businesses perceive digital identity.
Read also: How Adeniran taps AI for socio-economic impact
“What we are seeing is not just growth in numbers but growth in confidence. When a business registers a .ng domain, it is claiming its space within Nigeria’s digital economy. When it renews, it is making a long-term commitment to operate and grow within that space,” Akinsanya said.
The trend points to gradual formalisation within Nigeria’s vast SME sector, where many businesses have traditionally relied on social media storefronts instead of owned web platforms.
Akinsanya said third-level domains such as .com.ng remain critical entry points because of their affordability and accessibility. “These domains lower the barrier for startups and small businesses. They allow entrepreneurs to move from informal online selling to structured digital operations with their own identity,” he added.
Activity was particularly strong in that segment, which accounted for 6,155 registrations in January.
By contrast, second-level domains, shorter, premium names ending simply in .ng, showed stronger renewal momentum. Renewals in that category reached 2,424, surpassing 1,956 new registrations, indicating retention among businesses that already secured prime digital addresses.
Read also: NiRA and the path to Nigeria’s digital transformation
“That renewal pattern tells its own story. Renewal is not curiosity. It means the business sees value, sees visibility, and sees trust in that identity,” Akinsanya said.
The expansion comes as Nigeria implements the Nigeria First Policy signed in 2025, which mandates greater prioritisation of local hosting, local content and national digital assets. Government ministries and agencies are expected to transition to .ng domains within a defined timeframe as part of efforts to strengthen digital sovereignty.
Akinsanya described the .ng domain as foundational digital infrastructure. “Just as the naira represents our economic identity and +234 represents our telecom identity, .ng represents our online identity. It is strategic infrastructure for national development,” he said.
Nigeria’s digital economy has grown into a significant contributor to national output, driven by fintech, e-commerce, online media and a fast-rising startup ecosystem. Yet much of the country’s web presence has historically sat on foreign top-level domains, with registration fees and related services flowing offshore.
Economists say increased adoption of .ng domains could help retain digital value within the country, reduce capital flight linked to foreign domain payments and stimulate domestic infrastructure investment, including data centres and cybersecurity services.
For SMEs, domain ownership often marks a step beyond informal digital trading, offering greater brand control, search visibility and customer trust.
January’s figures reflect a maturing namespace, in that, new entrants are joining the ecosystem, while established businesses are renewing and consolidating their online identities.
“If we strengthen local adoption, we strengthen national resilience. Digital sovereignty begins with digital identity,” Akinsanya said.
