The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the umbrella body of ICT professionals responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code top-level domain, has unveiled the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) on its .ng domain, in furtherance of its sustained efforts aimed at strengthening national cybersecurity mechanisms and enhancing trust in the nation’s digital ecosystem.
The NiRA) formally unveiled the DNSSEC) on the .ng country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), at the .ng Media Advocacy and Capacity Building Initiative held on Thursday at its Secretariat in Lagos, thus positioning Nigeria among countries adopting advanced technologies to secure their internet infrastructure and support a resilient digital economy.
The DNSSEC is an internet security protocol designed to protect users from cyber threats such as redirection to fraudulent websites, strengthen internet security and combat cyber threats, such as phishing and DNS hijacking by adding cryptographic verification to the domain name system.
In his address at the forum, the President of NiRA, Adesola Akinsanya, described the deployment as a defining moment for Nigeria’s internet ecosystem.
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He enthused: “The successful deployment of DNSSEC on the .ng domain represents a major milestone. As more services move online, it is critical to ensure a secure and trusted digital environment for citizens, businesses, and government.”
The techno expert explained that the initiative aligned with global best practices and underscored Nigeria’s commitment to building a secure and competitive digital economy, assuring that strengthening trust in the .ng domain will create an enabling environment for innovation, investment, and growth in digital services.
Noting that a secure domain name system is fundamental to the development of the digital economy, Akinsanya advised organisations, particularly those operating critical services, to adopt DNSSEC as part of their cybersecurity frameworks.
The initiative is expected to benefit sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, e-commerce, and government platforms by offering enhanced protection against cyber threats including phishing and data interception.
Institutions regulated by bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) are among those expected to gain from the improved security framework.
The deployment also aligns with Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda supported by agencies such as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The initiative is part of NiRA’s 2024–2025 strategic plans to enhance the resilience of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, supported by partnerships with local and international stakeholders.
Over the past years, NiRA has conducted specialized workshops (in collaboration with partners like ICANN and NSRC) to train ISP providers, registrars, and other stakeholders on DNSSEC deployment, risk analysis, and security monitoring.
By implementing DNSSEC, the association aims to boost trust in the .ng brand, making it a more secure, credible, and reliable digital identity for businesses and individuals.
Speaking on the DNSSEC initiative, the Chief Operating Officer of NiRA, Oluwaseyi Onasanya, said the .ng domain had been fully signed and currently in a monitoring phase to ensure stability and optimal performance.
She explained that a phased rollout would allow accredited registrars and domain owners to adopt DNSSEC protection for their individual domains.
The association’s COO said: “This deployment is the result of extensive planning and collaboration. Our focus now is to ensure seamless adoption across the ecosystem.”
While assuring that it will continue to partner stakeholders to drive awareness, build capacity, and accelerate adoption of the DNSSEC implementation, NiRA advised businesses and organisations to leverage the new capability and embrace the .ng domain as a secure and trusted digital identity.
Photo Caption
L-R: Executive Board of Director of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Ahmed Mukoshy, the association’s Chief Operating Officer, Oluwaseyi Onasanya; BOT of NiRA, Remmy Nweke; President of association, Adesola Akinsanya; Vice Chair, ICANN, ccNSO, Adebiyi Oladipo; and Head of Tech NiRA, Habeeb Taiwo; at the unveiling of the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) during the .ng Media Advocacy and Capacity Building Initiative held on Thursday at the NIRA Secretariat in Lagos
