Introduction
The Nigerian government has introduced a National Policy on Nigeria Government Second-Level Domains, aimed at improving the online identity and security of government institutions. This policy mandates the use of relevant second-level domains and prohibits the use of private emails like Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, etc for official purposes. According to the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), they confirmed their collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to ensure a successful implementation.
I. The Significance of .ng ccTLD for Nigeria’s Online Identity:
The .ng country code top-level domain (ccTLD) serves as Nigeria’s online identity and includes industry-specific second-level domains such as .gov.ng, .org.ng, and .edu.ng. Managed by NiRA, these domains allow businesses, individuals, and organizations to establish relevant online identities.
II. Mandate for Government Officials to Use Official Domains:
The former Nigerian President; Muhammadu Buhari before his handing over stated this on the unveiling of the National Policy on Nigeria Government Second-Level Domains. According to the former president, all government officials are required to refrain from using private emails for official purposes. Instead, they are mandated to use official domains to ensure accountability and data security.
III. Migration of Federal Public Institutions’ Websites
Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) in Nigeria are directed to migrate their websites to the relevant government domains. The policy emphasizes the importance of using the appropriate second-level domains (.gov.ng, .edu.ng, .mil.ng, and .sch.ng) for government institutions, promoting regulatory compliance and accountability.
IV. Collaboration between NiRA and NITDA for Implementation
The implementation of the policy is a joint effort between NiRA and NITDA. They have initiated strategy meetings through webinars with key stakeholders, including federal and state government institutions, schools, universities, and the military. Awareness campaigns, sensitization committees, and training programs are being organized to facilitate smooth adoption and implementation of the second-level domains.
V. Advantages of the Policy
The National Policy on Nigeria Government Second-Level Domains aims to enhance the recognition and accountability of government institutions online. By hosting data within Nigeria’s borders, the policy ensures data security and contributes to the growth of the digital economy.
Conclusion
The National Policy on Nigeria Government Second-Level Domains is a significant step toward strengthening the online identity and security of government institutions in Nigeria. NiRA is committed to collaborating with NITDA and other stakeholders to ensure successful policy implementation. Compliance with this policy, including migrating websites and emails to the appropriate second-level domains, is strongly encouraged to promote accountability and foster growth in Nigeria’s digital economy. For more information, please refer to our recent second-level domain webinar.
