Nigeria’s digital economy has reached a point where growth is no longer driven by technology alone but by the policies that guide how technology is adopted, governed, and sustained. Nigeria’s digital transformation journey has been shaped significantly by policies and strategies that provide a clear framework for infrastructure development, digital skills, service innovation, trust, and inclusion. This policy direction has helped position the digital economy as a critical driver of national development, economic diversification, and job creation.
However, these policy frameworks have not historically placed sufficient emphasis on the growth, governance, and ownership of Nigeria’s internet space itself. There has been a clear gap in addressing how national digital infrastructure, particularly our country-code top-level domain, fits into broader economic and sovereignty goals. This gap is precisely why the Nigeria First Policy has emerged as a timely and necessary catalyst to support and accelerate growth within the Nigerian internet ecosystem.
A Look at the Nigeria First Policy: A Digital Sovereignty Blueprint
Signed in 2025, the Nigeria First Policy mandates national prioritization—local content, local manufacturing, local hosting, and local ownership. This is not protectionism; it is patriotism digitized. For Nigeria’s digital economy, this translates into deliberate actions such as
● Mandatory .ng ccTLD adoption: Government agencies, MDAs, and critical sectors are required to transition to .ng domains within a defined period, reclaiming Nigeria’s online identity from foreign TLDs and reinforcing national ownership of digital assets.
● Local data hosting requirements: A significant portion of Nigerian data is to be hosted within domestic data centers, reducing latency, curbing capital flight, strengthening cybersecurity, and accelerating the growth of local infrastructure providers.
This policy rightly centers localization as a prerequisite for digital sovereignty. For the digital economy to achieve true independence and resilience, .ng domain uptake across the Nigerian internet space must be treated as foundational infrastructure, not an afterthought. Digital identity, trust, and control of data all begin with where and how Nigeria is represented online.
As highlighted by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, the government’s role is central to achieving digital sovereignty. Concrete steps are already being taken to ensure that government institutions and MDAs lead by example, driving adoption in line with existing policies and embedding .ng usage into procurement, platforms, and public-facing digital services.
Impact of Supportive Policies on Digital Economy Growth
Well-aligned policies have a compounding effect on digital growth:
● Economic retention: .ng domains keep registration fees and associated value within Nigeria, reducing capital outflow and contributing directly to GDP. Unlike foreign TLDs, .ng ensures
that digital value circulates locally.
● Trust and sovereignty: Second-level domains such as .gov.ng and .edu.ng enforce compliance, strengthen institutional credibility, secure data within national borders, and build citizen trust—an essential ingredient for successful e-government and digital public services.
● Sectoral growth: Across fintech, e-commerce, health tech, and the creative economy, policy-backed digital identity signals legitimacy. Consistent adoption has the potential to power tens of millions of Nigerian online identities and significantly expand digital reach and visibility.
Together, these policies advance digital sovereignty, enhance cybersecurity, and promote indigenous digital content—key pillars for a sustainable digital economy.
.ng’s Pivotal Role in Building Nigeria’s Digital Economy
The .ng ccTLD is Nigeria’s digital sovereignty engine.
It powers identity—much like the Naira or the +234 country code, .ng is unmistakably Nigerian. It improves local search visibility, strengthens geo-targeting, and builds instant trust for SMEs, startups, and government institutions.
It enables security—through DNSSEC deployment, structured second-level domains, and registry oversight that mitigates domain hijacking and cyber threats in an increasingly hostile digital environment.
At a national level, .ng is not merely a naming system; it is strategic infrastructure, supporting innovation, job creation, investor confidence, and a growing digital GDP contribution.
Yet, policy must do more than exist. It must be aligned, implemented, and responsive to the realities of a rapidly evolving digital environment. When policy alignment is achieved, it creates certainty for investors, strengthens trust, supports innovation, and enables citizens and businesses to participate confidently in the digital economy.
As Nigeria continues to scale its digital ambitions, policies must deliberately recognize and support national digital infrastructure such as the .ng domain. Encouraging its adoption across government, the private sector, and small businesses keeps economic value local, builds confidence in Nigerian digital brands, and reinforces Nigeria’s presence in the global digital space.
There is also a clear need for expanded, targeted policy support focused on awareness, adoption, and protection of the .ng domain. Such measures will not only accelerate uptake but further strengthen cybersecurity, national resilience, and Nigeria’s long-term digital sovereignty.