*L-R: Tony Emoekpere, Council Member, National Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6); Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner Technical Services, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Mr. Muhammed Rudman, National President, IPv6 Council; Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO,NCC; Barr. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, NCC; Dr. Chris Uwaje, National Vice President, IPv6 Council; Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, President, National Internet Registration Association, NIRA/ Council Member, during the Inauguration of the National Internet Protocol Version 6, (IPv6) Council Members, at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State on the 23rd April 2026.
The adoption of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is a strategic imperative for Nigeria’s digital competitiveness, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr.Aminu Maida, has declared.
This comes as the Commission inaugurated the Nigeria IPv6 Council to drive nationwide transition.
Speaking at the inauguration in Lagos, Maida described IPv6 as critical to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty, security, and technological advancement, especially in the face of exhausted IPv4 resources and the rapid expansion of emerging technologies.
“Global IPv4 reserves are exhausted, while the growth of 5G networks, Internet of Things, cloud services, and AI-driven applications has stretched legacy internet systems. In this context, IPv6 is a strategic necessity,” he said.
The newly inaugurated Nigeria IPv6 Council, a national chapter of the global IPv6 Forum, is tasked with promoting awareness, coordinating deployment strategies, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate adoption across the country.
According to Maida, Nigeria currently records about five per cent IPv6 adoption, based on 2026 global data, far below the over 40 per cent recorded by leading economies.
He called the Council to drive adoption to at least,30 per cent by 2030.
IPv6, developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force, is a 128-bit networking standard designed to replace IPv4, offering a virtually limitless pool of IP addresses.
It also provides enhanced security, faster routing, and improved efficiency to support modern technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, and IoT.
The Chairman of the Nigeria IPv6 Council, Mohammed Rudman, disclosed that a National IPv6 Implementation Strategy is already in place but noted that adoption remains slow due to several constraints.
He identified key challenges to include lack of upstream providers, especially among Tier-2 Internet Service Providers, which affects smaller networks; limited technical expertise; equipment compatibility issues; and the high cost of running dual IPv4 and IPv6 systems.
Rudman called for coordinated funding involving government, private sector players, and international partners to ensure sustainable implementation.
“A coordinated funding approach is essential. Success requires commitment from all stakeholders and strategic allocation of resources,” he said.
He outlined critical roles for stakeholders, including government budgetary support for infrastructure upgrades, private sector investment in network modernisation, public-private partnerships, and international assistance for capacity building and technical support.
Rudman added that progress would be measured through increased IPv6 adoption among network operators, expansion of IPv6-enabled government networks, growth in infrastructure, and the number of trained professionals.
Describing the transition as more than a technical shift, he stressed that it is vital for Nigeria’s digital transformation and global relevance.
“The transition to IPv6 is a strategic national priority. It is key to economic growth and competitiveness in the global digital economy,” he added.
Also speaking, the Adviser to the Council and Founder of Mobile Software Solutions Limited, Chris Uwaje, warned that Nigeria risks falling behind globally if it fails to accelerate adoption.
“IPv6 is not just infrastructure but a resource. Nigeria must ensure its digital sovereignty by embracing it fully,” he said.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that widespread IPv6 adoption would enhance network performance, strengthen cybersecurity through built-in features such as IPsec, and support the growth of digital services, including streaming and online platforms.
They also emphasised ongoing efforts to bridge the knowledge gap through training programmes, capacity building initiatives, and integration of IPv6 into academic curricula, as Nigeria positions itself for the next generation of internet technologies.
