… Stakeholders Call For Swift Implementation of Policy
By CHIDIEBERE NWANKWO
Following efforts to get Nigerians to adopt the Internet Protocol version 6 (IPV6), a global resource that provides limitless pool of more secured, more robust IP addresses, and a replacement for IPV4, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has inaugurated the IPV6 Council to steer the interest of Nigeria locally and globally.
The Nigeria IPv6 Council, as the national chapter of the global IPv6 Forum, was established to promote awareness, advance best practices, coordinate deployment strategies, and foster collaboration among all stakeholders invested in Nigeria’s internet future.
IPv6 is the newest, 128-bit networking standard designed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to replace IPv4, providing a virtually limitless pool of unique IP addresses to support the growing number of internet-connected devices. It offers improved security, faster routing, and simplified packet processing, ensuring future-proof scalability for the internet of things (IoT) and mobile technology.
Speaking at the inauguration held in Lagos on Thursday, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida spoke of the need to accelerate adoption of IPV6 in Nigeria as a “strategic necessity” for Nigeria’s digital competitiveness.
Referencing APNIC’s 2026 global measurements that place Nigeria’s IPv6 adoption at approximately 5%, while leading economies have surpassed 40%, Dr. Maida charged the Council to drive the nation’s adoption beyond its targeted 30% by end of year 2030.
He said: “Global IPv4 reserves are exhausted, while the rapid expansion of 5G networks, the Internet of Things, cloud services, and AI-driven applications has pushed the limits of legacy internet addressing. At the same time, the cyber-threat landscape continues to intensify. In this context, IPv6 is a strategic necessity for national competitiveness, security, and economic sovereignty.”
Despite the urgent need for 5G, IoT, and digital growth, IPV6 adoption is hindered by limited service provider deployment, policy and awareness, lack of technical expertise and awareness, among others.
Speaking on the current state of IPv6 in Nigeria, Chairman of IPV6 Council Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Rudman disclosed that a National IPv6 Implementation Strategy is in place to accelerate migration.
He however noted that adoption has been very slow, and laid out challenges to adoption to include:
- Lack of Upstream Providers: Many Tier-2 ISPs have not migrated, making it impossible for smaller networks (Tier-3) to adopt it.
- Technical Constraints: Lack of technical know-how and equipment compatibility issues hinder the transition.
- Cost of Dual-Stack: The need to run both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously creates additional expenses, which some operators are reluctant to incur.
He however solicited strong funding to help the Council achieve its drive towards sustained implementation.
“A coordinated funding approach is essential for sustainable IPV6 implementation. Success requires commitment from multiple stakeholders and strategic resource allocation across government, private sectors, and international partners,” he explained.
He noted the roles of government, private and international actors to include:
- Government budget allocation for infrastructure upgrades
- Private sector investments in network modernization
- Public-private partnerships for shared costs
- International funding through development partners
- Technical assistance from global organisations
- Knowledge transfer and capacity building grants.
He further noted that success rate will be measure by the percentage of IPV6-enabled government networks; adoption rate among network operators; number of trained and certified professionals; and growth in IPV6-enabled services and infrastructure.
Rudman further affirmed: “The transition to IPV6 is not merely a technical upgrade, but a strategic national priority. It is essential for enabling Nigeria’s digital transformation, economic growth, and global competitiveness. Achieving success will require strong leadership from government, active participation from industry stakeholders, investment in infrastructure and skills, and continuous monitoring and enforcement.
A coordinated well-executed approach will position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s digital future and ensure its readiness for the next generation of internet technologies.”
Stakeholders agree that IPV6 will aid digital economy growth, being essential for supporting 5G, cloud computing, and IoT; while also improving network performance by providing faster routing and improved efficiency, directly benefiting streaming and online services
However, one its main benefit is the provision of built-in security features, such as integrated IPsec.
Efforts are ongoing to promote capacity building, training, and the integration of IPv6 into educational curricula to address the technical knowledge gap
Adviser to the Council and Chief Architect/Founder Mobile Software Solutions Limited, Mr. Chris Uwaje, in his comment, warned that Nigeria may fall behind in the global digital economy if adoption of IPv6 remains low and below the global average of over 40%. “IPV6 is not just an infrastructure, but also a resource. The legacy system need to ensure national IPV6 digital sovereignty.”
