Nigerian domains are managed by NiRA, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association.
Here's what each extension is for and who can register it.
Open to everyone:
- .ng Domain: The premium Nigerian domain. Short, memorable, open to any individual or organisation. Costs more than the second-level options.
- .com.ng Domain: commercial businesses. The most widely used Nigerian extension and the cheapest way to get a local presence.
- .org.ng Domain: non-profits, NGOs, associations and religious bodies.
- .name.ng Domain: personal names and personal websites.
- .i.ng Domain: personal and creative use; popular for short, brandable names.
Restricted, documentation required:
- .net.ng Domain: reserved for licensed network and telecommunications service providers. Requires evidence of licensing.
- .gov.ng Domain: federal, state and local government bodies only. Requires an official request on government letterhead.
- .edu.ng Domain: accredited tertiary institutions. Requires accreditation evidence.
- .sch.ng Domain: primary and secondary schools. Requires registration or approval documents.
- .mil.ng Domain: Nigerian military only.
How restricted registrations work with us. If you order a restricted extension the domain isn't registered instantly. We place the order, then request your supporting documents by ticket and submit them to the registry on your behalf. Approval typically takes a few working days. If the registry rejects the application we'll contact you about a refund or an alternative extension.
Which should I choose? For a Nigerian business, .com.ng is the safe, affordable default and signals clearly that you're local. Choose .ng if you want a shorter, more premium address and the name is available. Many businesses register both and redirect one to the other so nobody else can take it.
Renewals. Nigerian extensions follow the same renewal and expiry rules as any other domain. NiRA doesn't offer a long redemption window on every extension, so renew early.
