The Federal Government has hinted of plans to adopt the latest version of Internet Protocol (IPv6) in the country in furtherance of its sustained efforts to enhance the identification, numbering and tracking of Internet users and their devices nationwide.
This disclosure was made the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during the IPv6 Driven Digital Summit with the theme ‘Bringing Net 5.5G Into Reality: Inspiring New Growth’, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with Huawei, the IPv6 Forum, and the IPv6 Council of Nigeria.
Specifically, the new protocol is expected to improve the management and security of internet traffic, simplifying the monitoring and protection of online activities. This move will also align Nigeria with global standards for cybersecurity and digital infrastructure.
Tijani said that Nigeria’s adoption of IPv6 had positioned the country among the leading African nations embracing the latest version of the protocol.
The minister, who said the Summit was organised to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation and explore the possibilities of IPv6 in unlocking new growth opportunities, maintained that “with the adoption of IPv6, network providers in Nigeria can now offer more reliable services while enhancing the security of online transactions.”
While highlighting the IPv6’s potential benefits as including exposing cybercriminals, and boosting the country’s cybersecurity initiatives, amongst others, the minister pointed out that the new protocol would enable authorities to more effectively identify and monitor internet traffic, create a more secured online environment for internet users in the country.
According to him, with only a few countries that have fully adopted IPv6, adopting the protocol will make Nigeria’s transition a commendable feat.
The minister clarified: “This is the standard used globally but only a few countries like the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are on IPv6; others are trying to catch up.
“The IPV6 is the latest protocol responsible for ensuring that online transactions and activities allow authorities to identify users, both for security purposes and ensuring appropriate usage of the internet space.
“Network providers will make sure the services they provide are always available by identifying where the traffic is coming from”, Tijani added.
In his remarks at the Summit, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, explained that implementing IPv6 in Nigeria would require low investment, adding that based on Roland Berger’s, a global consultancy firm’s research findings, the adoption of IPv6 could open up a $10 trillion global market.
He further clarified that most existing devices were already compatible with IPv6, stressing that the main priority for Nigeria will be to develop a clear strategy and policy to ensure operators comply with the migration.
Inuwa assured: “This migration to IPv6 is expected to open new economic opportunities and strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity posture.”
