The Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has issued a strong call for digital sovereignty, bringing together senators, regulators, industry leaders, and civil society at the third edition of its annual Tech Convergence conference. The event, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Independence: The Role of Policy, Digital Identity, and .ng for Economic Growth,” focused on reducing reliance on foreign digital infrastructure.
Digital Independence as Resilience
NiRA President Adesola Akinsanya declared that digital independence is not about isolation but about building resilience. “It means a secure, competitive ecosystem that gives Nigeria greater control over its data, infrastructure, identity systems, and online presence,” he stated during the opening ceremony.
Economic Impact of Digital Dependence
A key revelation at the conference was that Nigeria loses an estimated $850 million annually by failing to fully utilize its own digital identity infrastructure. Reliance on foreign domains, offshore hosting, and non-indigenous platforms not only drains revenue but also surrenders jurisdictional control over citizens’ data, according to experts.
National Security Concerns
Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, framed the issue as a matter of national security. Drawing parallels with global tech rivalries, he warned: “We may have the Navy to protect our marine borders. Our Air Force may be free in the air to protect our airspace. But your data is somewhere in China. We are vulnerable as a people. One area where we can take very good control is the .ng domain, because this is our address.”
High-Level Participation
The conference featured a broad spectrum of participants, including Senator Salisu, Stanley Olajide from the House Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Dr Vincent Olatunji of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, representatives from the Nigerian Communications Commission, NITDA, National Bureau of Statistics, ATCON, and leading private sector organizations. Their consensus was clear: Nigeria must host Nigerian data on Nigerian soil.
Benefits of Local Hosting
The National Bureau of Statistics emphasized that local hosting improves accessibility, reduces latency, retains jurisdiction, and stimulates demand for domestic cloud services and innovation. This move is seen as critical for economic growth and data sovereignty.
Proposed Measures for .ng Adoption
Senator Salisu proposed bold measures to mainstream the .ng domain. These include mandating .ng email addresses for all JAMB applicants (over 2.5 million yearly), requiring .ng domains for CAC-registered businesses and SMEDAN beneficiaries, and making .ng a prerequisite for access to the Student Education Loan Fund. He pledged to accompany NiRA leadership on advocacy visits to key agencies to ensure policy-level adoption of .ng across government and institutions.
Launch of .ng Ambassador Programme
A landmark announcement was the unveiling of the .ng Ambassador Programme, designed to mobilize high-influence advocates across government, academia, and industry. Dr Ibukun Odusote, Chairperson of NiRA’s Board of Trustees, described it as strategic infrastructure for sovereignty: “The .ng Ambassador Programme provides an opportunity for stakeholders to actively participate in shaping and promoting Nigeria’s digital future. Together, let us strengthen Nigeria’s digital independence.”
Continental Leadership Role
Senator Salisu, also Chairman of the West African Parliamentarians Network of Internet Governance, urged NiRA to lead continental efforts to reclaim IP address blocks diverted abroad. He argued that Nigeria, with more JAMB applicants yearly than the population of Gambia and a data protection commission studied across Africa, is positioned as custodian of the continent’s digital conscience.
NITDA’s Support
NITDA reaffirmed its decision to delegate .ng management to NiRA two decades ago, signaling readiness to expand NiRA’s mandate as Nigeria’s digital ecosystem matures. The agency’s continued support underscores the importance of local domain management for national development.
