Domain name registration, renewal from 184,341 in November 2021 to 178,097 in January 2022

Emma Okonji

Nigeria has seen a decline in domain name registration and renewal over the past three months, with the number of registrations dropping from 184,341 in November 2021 to 178,097 in January 2022, according to the latest statistics released by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), the body responsible for hosting and domesticating the domain name in Nigeria revealed.

According to statistics obtained from the official website of NIRA, although there has been a slight growth in the total number of domain name registrations, renewals and restorations from 2019 to 2022, the figures have increased from 184,341 in November 2021 to 178,097 in January 2022.

According to statistics, Nigeria registered a total of 146,352 domain name registrations, renewals and restorations in November 2019, and in November 2020, the figure rose to 172,712, while in November 2021, the figure increased again to 184,341. In December 2019, the total number of registrations, renewals and restorations was 147,461, and in December 2020, the figure increased to 175,071, while in December 2021, the figure rose to 181,532.

In January 2020, Nigeria recorded a total of 150,111 domain name registrations, renewals and restorations, but in January 2021 this figure increased to 178,230 and dropped slightly to 178,079 in January 2022.

Data analysis revealed that there was a slight increase in the number of registrations, renewals and restorations for the dot ng domain name, which is Nigeria’s identity in cyberspace, from 2019 to 2021 .

THISDAY however discovered a drop in registrations, renewals and restorations in the last three months, from November 2021 to January 2022, where the numbers fell from 184,341 in November 2021 to 182,532 in December 2021 and a further drop to 178,079 in January 2022.

Giving the reasons for the drop in numbers in the last three months from November 2021 to January 2022, NiRA Chairman Mr. Mohammed Rudman told THISDAY that registrations actually increased from 2019 to 2020, but has explained that there was a drop in 2021 and 2022 due to the effect of COVID-19.

According to him, “In 2020, we saw an increase in the number of registrations for country code top-level domain names (ccTLDs) but in 2021, the number of registrations dropped due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem is that everyone who registered in 2020 could not use the domain name during this same year 2020 because of the pandemic and, as such, they do not did not renew their registration in 2021 and new registrations also dropped in 2021 for ccTLDs.

Rudman however said that the drop in domain name registration in 2021 was not unique to the Nigerian market as it was a global issue caused by the effect of COVID-19. Many ccTLD domain name registrations dropped in 2021 globally, the only increase in domain name registration was in the domain of second level domain names like dot gov, dot ng and dot com.

“So for Nigeria, the reason for the decline in domain name registration was due to the effect of COVID-19, coupled with the difficult economic situation affecting individuals and organizations in the country,” said Rudman said.

When asked if the federal government’s policy on the use of digital technologies, which aims to domesticate the dot ng domain name among government agencies, will help increase domain name registration and renewal in the country, Rudman said, “Government policy domesticating the dot ng domain name through parastatals, has helped increase domain name adoption by 80% within government circles. What the government is trying to do with this policy is to domesticate the use of domain names in government parastatals, as most government officials use private email addresses like Yahoo, while dropping the official email addresses that have a dot ng.

So I think the government’s decision is a good step in the right direction, because if the government paves the way for the domestication of the dot ng domain name, then the general public will follow. It is therefore a welcome development as it will help increase the domestication of the dot ng domain name in Nigeria,” Rudman added.