Nigeria has commenced plans to overhaul its Internet infrastructure over the next three years as rising connectivity demand exposes the limits of its current system. The Nigerian Communications Commission is leading the transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), a newer global standard designed to support a far larger number of connected devices.
The move follows a sharp increase in Internet usage, with national data consumption reaching 1.39 million terabytes in January 2026, representing a 38.4 per cent rise from the previous year. Industry data shows Nigeria’s IPv6 adoption remains at about five per cent, significantly below levels recorded in countries such as India and Saudi Arabia, where uptake has exceeded 40 per cent, raising concerns about the country’s readiness for future digital growth.
To accelerate deployment, the NCC has inaugurated the Nigerian IPv6 Council to coordinate implementation across government agencies, telecom operators, and private sector stakeholders. The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Aminu Maida, said the transition is critical to sustaining reliable connectivity, enhancing national competitiveness, and supporting emerging technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
Despite the push, stakeholders say the transition presents technical and security challenges, including the need to operate both IPv4 and IPv6 systems simultaneously and the risk of configuration gaps. The council is expected to address these issues through coordinated rollout strategies, capacity building in partnership with AFRINIC, and policy measures aimed at driving adoption across public and private networks.