Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has outlined five strategic pathways to accelerate the adoption of the .ng domain and position it as a critical driver of Nigeria’s digital economy.

NiRA

Oluwaseyi Onasanya, Chief Operating Officer of NiRA, presented the framework at a Media Advocacy and Capacity Building Workshop held on April 16.

Onasanya described the .ng domain as a key component of Nigeria’s digital sovereignty, noting that the country has about 65 per cent internet penetration and over 35.6 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contributing nearly 48 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She said the first pathway involves mandating the use of .ng domains across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as subnational entities, government vendors and tax remitters.

According to her, this would ensure that all official digital communications with government institutions are conducted through .ng platforms, while also linking domain usage to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration and procurement processes.

The second strategy focuses on a nationwide awareness campaign tagged “Own Your .ng, Own Your Future,” aimed at promoting the domain as a symbol of national identity, trust and economic value.

Onasanya said the third pathway calls for leadership from the private sector, urging banks, telecommunications companies, startups and SMEs to adopt .ng domains and integrate them into onboarding processes.

She added that the fourth strategy seeks to position .ng as a secure and regulated alternative to foreign domains, enhancing consumer confidence, improving local search visibility and strengthening jurisdictional control.

The fifth pathway centres on expanding the digital ecosystem by strengthening registrar networks, simplifying user experience and integrating .ng domains into internet service providers, digital platforms and national performance metrics.

Onasanya warned that Nigeria’s domain adoption rate remains low compared to global peers, noting that the country has approximately one domain per 855 citizens, far behind countries like Germany, the United Kingdom and China.

She cautioned that low adoption could lead to capital flight, as businesses continue to rely on foreign domain platforms in an increasingly digital global economy.

She also called on the media to drive awareness, shape public perception and promote adoption by highlighting the economic value of .ng domains across sectors.

“Without media, .ng stays technical. With media, it becomes economic,” he said.

NiRA said that over 240,000 .ng domains have been registered so far, with projections indicating continued growth as Nigeria targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has cautioned broadcast presenters against bullying guests during live interviews or presenting personal opinions as facts, warning that such actions will attract sanctions.

NBC

In a statement issued on Friday, the commission said it had observed a rise in violations of the sixth edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news, current affairs and political programmes.

“Broadcast platforms are increasingly being deployed in ways that depart from their core obligation to inform the public with accuracy, balance and professionalism,” the NBC said.

The commission noted that some anchors and presenters were deviating from professional standards by denying fair hearing to opposing views and compromising neutrality during broadcasts.

It stressed that such conduct violates provisions of the broadcasting code, which require impartiality and fair representation of all sides on issues of public interest.

“Henceforth, any anchor or presenter found to have expressed personal opinion as fact, bullied or intimidated a guest, denied fair hearing to opposing views, or otherwise compromised neutrality, shall be deemed to have committed a Class B breach,” the statement added.

The NBC also raised concerns over the growing use of broadcast platforms by political actors to promote divisive, inflammatory and unverified content.

It emphasised that broadcasters bear full editorial responsibility for all material aired, including live programmes, and cannot transfer that responsibility to guests.

The commission reiterated its commitment to enforcing strict compliance with the broadcasting code, warning that violations involving hate speech, incitement and imbalance would attract appropriate sanctions.

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has dismissed widespread claims that it banned airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria, describing the reports as false and driven by vested interests seeking to mislead the public.

In a statement issued on Friday, the commission said it neither cancelled nor prohibited such services, contrary to viral social media posts and some media reports suggesting otherwise.

The clarification follows a wave of public concern triggered by viral social media posts and some media reports suggesting that the Commission had shut down telecom-based credit services widely used by millions of Nigerians.

Recall that in separate notices, Airtel and MTN Nigeria announced the temporary suspension of their airtime and data credit services, which previously allowed eligible prepaid customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.

But FCCPC, said no such directive was issued, stressing that consumers remain free to access lawful telecom value-added services.

Ondaje Ijagwu, director of Corporate Affairs, FCCPC, said that “The attention of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been drawn to a series of newspaper publications and a viral anonymous post on social media seeking to create the impression that the Commission cancelled, shut down, or banned airtime borrowing and data advance services in Nigeria. Those claims are incorrect.

“The Commission has not prohibited airtime borrowing or data advance services, and no directive was issued preventing consumers from accessing lawful telecom value-added services,” the statement partly read.

Rather than a regulatory ban, the FCCPC attributed recent disruptions in some of these services to the failure of certain operators to comply with its Consumer Lending Regulations introduced in July 2025.

According to the Commission, the regulations were developed following a surge in consumer complaints over exploitative practices in the digital lending and advance-services space.

“Following a deluge of consumer complaints bordering on opaque charges, unexplained deductions, aggressive recovery practices, poor disclosure standards, and inadequate accountability in segments of the digital lending and advance-services market, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission issued the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations in July 2025.

“The Regulations were introduced, among other reasons, to curb the excesses of abusive service providers whose practices had generated persistent consumer harm and undermined confidence in the market,” it stated.

The agency said the framework was designed to sanitise the market and protect consumers by enforcing transparency, accountability, and fair competition.

“The primary aim is to promote a fairer and more transparent system by mandating proper registration, responsible lending conduct, clear disclosure of fees and terms, accessible consumer complaint channels, data protection safeguards, stronger accountability for third-party partners, and effective regulatory oversight,” the FCCPC explained.

Providing a deeper insight into the telecom sector, the Commission revealed that some operators had been engaged in anti-competitive practices, including exclusionary arrangements with third-party service providers.

“In the telecom sector, our findings indicated that some operators engaged in exclusionary third-party technical arrangements in clear disobedience to the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018. The Regulations sought to unlock the market to allow local participants alongside foreign partners, in line with free market principles,” it said.

It added that the new regulations were also intended to open up the market to more participants, including local players, in line with free market principles.

Despite giving operators ample time to comply, the FCCPC said several companies failed to align with the new regulatory framework.

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“These measures benefit Nigerians by reducing abusive practices, improving transparency, strengthening consumer choice, and encouraging responsible innovation by legitimate operators. At the commencement of the framework in July 2025, affected operators were granted an initial 90-day compliance period to regularise their products, structures, and operations. That opportunity was not utilised within the prescribed timeframe,” the statement noted.

The Commission said it extended the deadline to January 5, 2026, but compliance remained unsatisfactory.

“Despite that further extension, the necessary compliance steps were still not completed by the relevant operators,” it added.

The regulator stressed that any temporary suspension or restriction of services should be seen as a business decision by non-compliant operators rather than a government-imposed ban.

“Any temporary suspension, restriction, or operational change introduced by service providers should therefore be understood as a business or compliance decision by those operators, not a ban imposed by the FCCPC,” it said.

The Commission also accused certain interest groups of deliberately spreading false information to undermine reforms.

“We are aware that some vested interests and their foreign collaborators are opposed to the creation of safe markets and fair competition, therefore resorting to a campaign of disinformation,” it stated.

Describing such narratives as “mischievous,” the FCCPC urged Nigerians to disregard sensational claims and rely on verified information.

“It is inaccurate to attribute avoidable disruption to regulation where regulated entities had adequate notice and sufficient opportunity to comply. Nigerians deserve accurate information, not sensational claims.

“The FCCPC is fully committed to protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, encouraging responsible innovation, ensuring transparent digital financial practices, and working constructively with sector regulators and service providers in the public interest,” the statement added.

Airtime borrowing and data advance services have become critical tools for millions of telecom subscribers in Nigeria, allowing users to access credit for calls and internet services with repayment deducted upon recharge.

However, the segment has long been plagued by complaints over hidden charges, automatic deductions, unclear repayment terms, and aggressive recovery mechanisms.

The FCCPC’s intervention through the Consumer Lending Regulations marked one of the most significant attempts to regulate digital micro-lending and telecom-based credit services in the country.

The rules align with broader efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen consumer protection, enhance transparency in digital financial services, and curb exploitative practices in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding fintech and telecom ecosystem.

Friday’s clarification signals a push by the regulator to reclaim the narrative, reassure consumers, and shift responsibility to operators who have yet to fully comply with the law.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumers while fostering innovation and fair competition in the sector, noting that regulatory compliance remains non-negotiable for all service providers operating in the Nigerian market.