The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged website owners, government agencies and businesses to activate Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), warning that only 9.15 per cent of Nigeria’s .ng domain names currently use the security feature.
NITDA said the low adoption rate leaves many websites vulnerable to cyber threats, fake websites and online fraud, while weakening Nigeria’s digital security.
The Director-General of NITDA, Mr Kashifu Abdullahi, made the call during a webinar organised by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), where he was represented by NITDA Senior Manager, Mr Olusegunfunmi Folayan.
Speaking on the theme, “Securing Nigeria’s Digital Foundation: The .ng Domain and the Future of National Cyber Resilience,” Abdullahi explained that DNSSEC protects internet users by verifying that website information has not been altered by cybercriminals.
He warned that compromised DNS lookups could redirect unsuspecting users to fake websites, exposing them to cyberattacks and financial losses.
«“Before any transaction or financial return is processed, even when accessing government portals, a DNS lookup must occur,” he said.»
Abdullahi commended NiRA for deploying DNSSEC infrastructure for Nigeria’s .ng domain registry in February 2026 but stressed that website owners must also activate the security feature on their individual domains.
He urged organisations to conduct regular security assessments, fix vulnerabilities quickly, strengthen identity and access management, rotate cryptographic keys regularly and invest in staff training to improve cybersecurity.
Folayan disclosed that Nigeria’s .ng domain namespace now has more than 100,000 registered domain names managed by over 149 accredited registrars, but only 9.15 per cent had adopted DNSSEC as of July 2026.
He called for wider adoption across government websites, banking, fintech, telecommunications and e-commerce, adding that stronger collaboration among domain registries, registrars, internet service providers, government agencies and website owners would help protect Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and build public confidence in online services.
