The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) reported impressive progress in 2024, with notable increases in both domain registrations and financial performance. By the end of the year, NiRA had recorded 100,785 new domain registrations and 67,224 domain renewals, bringing the total number of .ng domain names under management to 229,585.
This reflects a 7.8 percent increase in the total number of .ng domain registrations from the previous year, which stood at 212,890. This growth underscores a rising demand for Nigeria’s national identity on the web, highlighting the importance of the .ng domain as a key resource for online presence and digital identity in the country.
NiRA’s financial performance in 2024
NiRA generated approximately ₦610 million in total revenue, marking a 75 percent increase compared to ₦348 million in 2023. This robust performance reflects the growing demand for .ng domains, along with NiRA’s enhanced operational strategies.
After accounting for ₦348.6 million in operational expenses, NiRA ended the fiscal year with a surplus of ₦237.4 million, an increase of 606 percent from the previous year’s surplus of ₦33.6 million.
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Total assets grew by 31 percent to ₦1.35 billion from ₦1.03 billion the previous year, while total liabilities rose by 51 percent to ₦402.7 million from ₦266.9 million in 2023. Total funds and reserves increased by 25 percent to ₦949.4 million, up from ₦762 million reported in 2023.
“While we acknowledge these successes, we recognise that more work remains to be done in increasing the uptake of the .ng domain strings, and we remain committed to this endeavour,” NiRA stated.
NiRA records 137 .ng domain name registrars
NiRA accredited 23 new registrars in 2024, raising the total number of NiRA-accredited registrars to 137 as of December 31, 2024. This growth strengthens Nigeria’s domain name registration ecosystem.
NiRA operates under the 3R model (Registry-Registrar-Registrant), meaning that it does not directly manage domain registrations. Instead, domain name registration, renewal, and transfer are handled by NiRA-accredited registrars. These registrars include both local and international entities accredited by NiRA.
The 23 new registrars had successfully finished the accreditation procedure and onboarding training in December 2024. These registrars demonstrated their commitment to excellence and adherence to NiRA’s set standards by meeting all necessary criteria and requirements.
The combined efforts of NiRA-accredited registrars and their resellers to increase domain name adoption are reflected in the accreditation of these 23 new registrars.
NiRA will endeavour to offer the public and registrants high-quality service in collaboration with its accredited registrars.
The companies that register and oversee .ng domains for registrants are known as registrars. When it comes to .ng domain registration, they are the primary contact points. Organisations interested in becoming NiRA-accredited registrars submit applications. The number of accredited registrars is not currently restricted by NiRA.
Nigeria’s most important national resource is .ng. On the Internet, it is Nigeria’s distinct identity. In the public interest of Nigeria and the international internet community, NiRA, the registry for .ng internet domain names, keeps track of names registered in the .ng country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) name space.
NiRA’s president Adesola Akinsanya stated, “The year 2024 has been a landmark period for NiRA, marked by significant progress, strategic initiatives, and groundbreaking innovations. We have embraced fresh ideas, fostered collaborations, and intensified efforts towards the security enhancement and aggressive marketing of the .ng domain name strings. These measures have significantly contributed to the increased adoption and visibility of the .ng brand.”
About Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA)
Established in March 2005, ,NiRA is the entity responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code .ng Top Level Domain (ccTLD), a critical digital asset representing Nigeria’s online identity. NiRA operates under the oversight of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
The association’s goal is to become a premier ccTLD registry, offering high-quality services and forging strategic partnerships that align with the principles of good governance, integrity, and sustainability.