NiRA plans affordable domains for SMEs
NiRA is exploring measures to make internet domain names more affordable and accessible to small and medium-sized businesses.
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) is exploring measures to make internet domain names more affordable and accessible to small and medium-sized businesses. NiRA President, Mr Adesola Akinsanya, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos. Akinsanya said the initiatives would encourage more Nigerian businesses to establish digital identities using the .ng domain. He said NiRA also wanted domain owners to register, renew and secure their domains at affordable rates.
According to him, discounted bundle packages offered by NiRA-accredited registrars are among the measures being promoted. He said the packages could combine .com.ng domains with web hosting, one-page websites and other business tools. Akinsanya said NiRA could also introduce SME domain vouchers for businesses accessing digital services through commerce partners and business associations. Under the proposed arrangement, participating registrars would provide registration services while NiRA would offer wholesale subsidies to reduce costs.
On renewals, Akinsanya said NiRA currently offered discounts for multi-year renewals covering periods between two and five years. He said the approach could reduce costs compared with annual renewals while minimising domain losses caused by missed deadlines. Akinsanya identified security as another major area of focus, noting that NiRA had already implemented DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC). He said DNSSEC protects domains against certain forms of DNS manipulation and redirection toward fraudulent or malicious websites.
The push for affordable domains reflects the growing importance of the digital economy in Nigeria. Small businesses often lack the resources to establish an online presence, and the proposed measures could lower the barrier to entry. The focus on security is also welcome, as cyber threats continue to evolve.
This echoes the 2022 efforts to promote .ng domains, which also sought to encourage adoption. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a focus on growing Nigeria’s digital identity.
The winners: Nigerian SMEs, which may gain affordable domain access; and NiRA, which is promoting the .ng domain. The losers: domain squatters, who face increased scrutiny; and the Nigerian government, which must support digital inclusion.
Bottom Line: NiRA is making domains more affordable for SMEs. The digital economy is growing. The question is whether the measures will be effective or fall short.