NiRA Proposes Cheaper .ng Domains and Trademark Alerts
Nigeria · TECHNOLOGY
Key Facts
—Proposed SME support: NiRA is exploring discounted bundles and vouchers. Both would cut what small firms actually pay for a .ng domain.
—Brand protection: A proposed Trademark Notification Service would alert trademark owners when similar names are registered across .ng namespaces.
—2025 price increases: Fees rose from 1 February 2025, with registrars listing .ng near 15,000 naira and .com.ng near 7,000 naira. That is about US$11.05 and US$5.16 at 1,357.61 naira per dollar on 17 August 2026.
—Free privacy protection: Since 16 June 2025 NiRA has hidden registrant contact details from WHOIS. That is the public register of domain ownership.
—Capital flight concern: NiRA said in April 2026 that Nigeria loses about 60 billion naira a year to foreign domains. That is about US$44 million at 1,357.61 naira per dollar on 17 August 2026.
—Policy timing: The proposals were reported on 16 August 2026 and remain policy directions rather than final regulatory changes.
Nigeria’s domain registry has proposed cheaper .ng bundles and vouchers for small businesses. It also proposed a trademark alert service, and it warns about money leaving the country.
What NiRA proposes on .ng domain costs for .ng domain costs
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association, or NiRA, is exploring ways to make .ng domains cheaper for small and medium-sized enterprises. Its president Adesola Akinsanya told the News Agency of Nigeria, and Nairametrics reported this on 16 August 2026.
The proposals focus on discounted bundle packages offered through NiRA-accredited registrars.
These bundles would combine .com.ng domains with basic web hosting, one-page websites and other business tools. The goal is to lower the effective cost of going online for SMEs by packaging core services together.
Akinsanya also proposed domain vouchers for small firms. NiRA would subsidise wholesale fees through the small business agency SMEDAN, the Bank of Industry and state agencies.
Brand protection and enforcement on the .ng namespace
A proposed Trademark Notification Service would let trademark owners register their marks with NiRA-accredited registrars.
Owners would receive alerts whenever exact, similar or related brand names are registered across .ng namespaces including .ng, .com.ng and .org.ng. The service functions as an early warning system rather than automatically transferring ownership of disputed domains.
The pricing history behind .ng domain costs
From 1 March 2022, NiRA cut .ng prices about 40 percent, and registrars then listed .ng at 4,800 to 12,000 naira. That equals US$11.54 to US$28.85 at the 1 March 2022 rate of 415.96 naira per dollar.
From 1 February 2025, NiRA raised registry prices, and registrars listed .ng near 15,000 naira and .com.ng near 7,000 naira. Those equal about US$11.05 and US$5.16 at 1,357.61 naira per dollar on 17 August 2026.
NiRA and registrars said the increases covered rising registry costs. They also cited security work, though only 15 of 164 accredited registrars have adopted DNSSEC.
Capital flight and digital sovereignty concerns
In April 2026 NiRA said Nigeria loses about 60 billion naira a year to foreign domains. That is roughly US$44 million at 1,357.61 naira per dollar on 17 August 2026.
Adeniyi Oladipo, a vice-chair at global domain overseer ICANN, said dollar payments for foreign domains pressure the naira. NiRA is also pressing for an executive order making .ng compulsory for government agencies.
NiRA wants cheaper bundles, vouchers, free privacy and brand alerts to make .ng more attractive than .com. Competition for Africa’s internet infrastructure is covered in our Africa: The New Scramble pillar.
What the 2026 pricing structure looks like
Registrar NG Domain’s February 2026 guide lists .ng at 13,000 naira before tax and third-level names at 6,000 naira. With 7.5 percent tax that is 13,975 and 6,450 naira.
Those figures are about US$10.29 and US$4.75 at 1,357.61 naira per dollar on 17 August 2026.
The .name.ng extension costs 400 naira before tax, about US$0.29 at 1,357.61 naira per dollar on 17 August 2026. Government and military names such as .gov.ng and .mil.ng are free but need approval.
NiRA launched free privacy redaction for .ng domains on 16 June 2025. It replaces registrant names, emails, phone numbers and addresses with “Data Redacted” in public ownership lookups.
What this means for brands, investors and regional competition
In naira, .ng costs far more than in 2022, but in dollars it is cheaper because the naira weakened sharply. NiRA now proposes vouchers and bundles to cut the effective cost further.
Free WHOIS privacy reduces exposure to spam and targeted attacks. The proposed brand notification service provides ongoing monitoring of potentially infringing registrations.
For foreign platforms and investors, NiRA’s capital-flight framing suggests continuing pressure for local hosting, data storage and partnerships with NiRA-accredited registrars. Changes in fee policy, brand-protection rules and dispute-resolution mechanisms may have regulatory implications for foreign companies operating in Nigeria via .ng domains.
Africa’s major economies including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt are all wrestling with how to increase local domain adoption versus .com. How to fund registry security without deterring usage.
How country-code domain policy can reinforce national economic strategy. NiRA’s pattern of price cuts in 2022.
Increases in 2025 and targeted SME subsidies in 2026 shows NiRA using domain pricing as economic policy, not just technical administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a .ng domain cost in Nigeria in 2026?
Before tax, .ng costs 13,000 naira and most third-level names 6,000 naira, with .name.ng at 400 naira. That is about US$9.58, US$4.42 and US$0.29 at 1,357.61 naira per dollar on 17 August 2026.
What is NiRA doing to make .ng domains cheaper for small businesses?
NiRA is proposing bundles that combine a domain with hosting and website tools. It would also issue vouchers and subsidise wholesale fees.
Does NiRA provide free WHOIS privacy for .ng domains?
Yes, NiRA has redacted registrant names, emails, phone numbers and addresses from public ownership records since 16 June 2025.
Connected Coverage
NiRA’s push for control of Nigeria’s domain space fits a wider contest. Africa: The New Scramble follows that competition.
Sources
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