News
Johnson Commends NiRA, Registrars on .ng Domain Name Impacts
Dr Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology has commended the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and the Registrars for their resolves to exploit the uniqueness of the .ng domain name in projecting the international relevance of Nigeria’s Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).
Johnson made the remark while commissioning NiRA office complex at 8 Funsho Willaims Avenue, Iponri, Suru-Lere, Lagos, on Friday.
The Minister also encouraged the accredited Registrars to double their efforts to serving the internet community locally and register .ng domain name on behalf of the Registrants worldwide and become big players like the “GoDaddy” of USA.
She identified .ng domain name as the country’s unique identity in the cyberspace.
“It is ours and our internet economy grows in leaps and bounds, we must proudly secure our identity in cyberspace. I therefore assure Nigerians that we are in for eccit.i.ng times”.
She recalled that the NiRA House commissioned on Friday, was purchased from the proceeds of past sales of premium domain names, validating the fact that the business and wealth creation opportunities in the domain name registration industry are significant.
The property serves, mot only as the operational headquarters of NiRA, but also provides a resource centre for training and certification in Domain Name System (DNS), an e-library for research in DNS, fully furnished offices for short term hiring, and a canteen.
“I am fully assured that the Executive Board of Directors will ensure sustainable good use of the premises,” Johnson said, while acknowledging the contributions of the Ministry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and other stakeholders in keeping NiRA’s dreams alive.
On her part, Mrs. Mary Nma Uduma, president of NiRA said, “For us at NIRA it’s a dream come true, looking back from our humble beginning, when we started from nothing, our sustainance then was out of the goodwill of our stakeholders, people of like interests/mind in the DNS industry as well as some members of the Association.
“NiRA’s office was a single room in a residential apartment in SuruLere, Lagos before NITDA gave us an office space at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“The success of NIRA cannot be complete, without appreciating our supervising Government Agencies; Ministry of Communication Technology (COMTECH), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), our stakeholders such Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and other ICT stakeholders.
“I would also seize this moment to appreciate and thank our Board of Trustees, my colleagues on the Executive Board of Directors, staff of NiRA, our Accredited Registrars, Registrants, members of the Association and the public for their immense contributions.
“My joy is that history will not forget us because victory is ours and all achievements of NiRA are for the development of our nation Nigeria”.
NiRA was founded on March 23, 2005 as a stakeholder-led organisation, charged with the management of the Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain Name (ccTLD), dot ng.
The transfer of the appropriate management of this important National Resource was coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on behalf of the Federal government of Nigeria. Stakeholders within Nigeria’s Internet community participated in its formation. It was registered as an Incorporated Trustee on February 9, 2007.
NIRA’s formation brought to an end the long years of controversy in the country, over the management of this critical national resource, following the intervention of the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The re-delegation of the .ng ccTLD came nearly 12 years after the country code was hosted first in Italy, and later by Mr Randy Bush, an American.
While Mr Bush was the technical contact for the ccTLD, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote served as the administrative contact.
NIRA’s Constitution was adopted by Stakeholders, at a meeting held on March 28, 2006. A Board of Trustees (BoT) was elected among the stakeholders with Dr. Isaac A. Odeyemi as the pioneer Chairman, shortly after the adoption of the Constitution.
By May 1, 2007, the first Executive Board of NIRA was elected with Engr. Ndukwe Kalu of blessed memory leading a 10-man Board.
Dr Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, Mary Nma Uduma, president of NiRA and, executive board members of NiRA other invited guests during the commissioning of NiRA House on Friday.
Anambra State has once again demonstrated its leadership in digital transformation, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top three states in the 2025 e-Governance Report published by the Panorama CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
According to the report — a collaborative effort between Nigerian Panorama and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) — Anambra ranks alongside Lagos and Enugu as the leading states in adopting and implementing e-governance practices that foster accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
In his remarks, Professor Anthony Kila, Director of CIAPS, emphasized the importance of e-governance in shaping how governments interact with citizens. “The centrality of e-governance allows us to assess the performance of state governments in the country. How the government treats the digital world says a lot about them,” he said.
The report evaluated states based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including website security, up-to-date content, public engagement, availability of online services, policy updates, and user accessibility. Anambra’s performance reflects the state’s deliberate investment in digital infrastructure and its commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for inclusive governance.
Reacting to the recognition, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the report as a welcome validation of the efforts being made under the leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to reposition Anambra as a liveable and prosperous smart mega-city.
“This is not just about being tech-savvy,” Agbata said. “It’s about using digital tools to create real impact — making the government more accessible, responsive, and transparent. Anambra is building a digital future that works for everyone.”
The CGPI Report recommended that all states intensify efforts to train public servants, maintain digital platforms effectively, and build user-friendly systems that keep citizens informed and empowered. For Anambra, this recognition serves both as a milestone and a motivation to scale new heights.
As the journey continues, Anambra remains focused on setting the pace for e-governance in Nigeria in line with the Governor’s mantra of Everything Technology & Technology Everywhere.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to reject the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion, warning that the move would significantly deepen Nigeria’s debt crisis.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the advocacy group warned that the proposed borrowing would raise Nigeria’s total debt stock to an estimated ₦183 trillion—an amount it described as “clearly not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
“The National Assembly must immediately refuse to approve the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion,” the group said. “The growing national debt is not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
SERAP expressed concern over the heavy burden of debt servicing, which it said is already consuming a substantial portion of government revenue, leaving little room for critical public investment.
Nigeria’s total public debt is projected to surpass ₦180 trillion following the president’s latest loan request. The borrowing plan includes a proposal for over $21.5 billion in external loans, which equates to ₦33.39 trillion at the official exchange rate of ₦1,590 per dollar. The administration is also seeking approval for a domestic bond issuance worth ₦757.9 billion to settle outstanding pension liabilities.
President Tinubu said the 2025–2026 borrowing plan targets key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, water supply, security, and employment generation. He noted that the plan is also intended to cushion the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The total loan request comprises $21.5 billion, €2.19 billion, and 15 billion Japanese Yen, alongside a €65 million grant. Tinubu assured lawmakers that the funds would be directed toward development projects across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with emphasis on rail networks, healthcare infrastructure, and poverty alleviation programs.
On pension-related borrowing, the president explained that the proposed bond issuance is aimed at clearing backlogs under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The measure, he added, has already received approval from the Federal Executive Council and is expected to improve retirees’ welfare, restore trust in the pension system, and inject liquidity into the economy.
Nigeria’s public debt has surged in recent years, rising by 48.6% in 2024 to ₦144.66 trillion—up from ₦97.34 trillion in 2023. The Federal Government accounts for 95% of that total.
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