The Nigerian Communications Commission has unveiled a national strategy to accelerate the adoption of Internet Protocol version 6, setting out clear targets for government agencies, telecommunications operators, and private sector players as it seeks to close a widening gap with global peers and strengthen its digital infrastructure.

The roadmap, launched on Thursday at the inauguration of the Nigeria IPv6 Council in Lagos by the NCC, aims to lift the country’s IPv6 adoption rate from roughly 5 per cent today to levels comparable with leading African economies within the next three years and to about 30 per cent by 2030.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the regulator, Aminu Maida, framed the transition as critical to Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and digital sovereignty, warning that continued reliance on the legacy IPv4 system risks constraining growth in next-generation technologies.

“IPv6 is no longer optional; it is a strategic necessity for national competitiveness, security, and economic sovereignty,” the executive said, noting that global IPv4 address reserves have been exhausted while demand for connectivity continues to surge, driven by 5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.

Under the strategy, at least 20 per cent of government networks are expected to become IPv6-compliant by 2027, while a minimum of 25 per cent of telecom operators are to actively deploy the protocol. Nationwide adoption is projected to reach approximately 30 per cent by the end of the decade.

The newly inaugurated council, which operates as Nigeria’s chapter of the global IPv6 Forum, has been tasked with coordinating implementation across sectors, including developing monitoring frameworks, issuing annual progress reports, and advising on policy incentives to accelerate uptake.

It will also work with the African Network Information Centre to deepen technical capacity as part of broader efforts to address a persistent skills gap in network engineering.

Industry stakeholders say the targets are ambitious but achievable, provided there is sustained coordination between regulators, operators, and enterprise users.

Data presented at the launch show Nigeria lagging behind global benchmarks, with IPv6 adoption at about 5 per cent, compared with a global average exceeding 40 per cent and an African average of around 6 per cent.

This is despite the country having more than 200 Autonomous System Numbers and over 100 networks that have already secured IPv6 address allocations. Only a fraction, however, are actively deploying the protocol or assigning IPv6 addresses to end users.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, one of the key bottlenecks is the continued functionality of IPv4, which reduces the urgency for migration among operators.

“Because IPv4 still works, many organisations are not under immediate pressure to transition,” he said. “The shift requires investment in infrastructure, training, and awareness, and many are unsure of the immediate commercial returns.”

weakens demand, as most consumers are indifferent to the underlying internet protocol as long as connectivity is maintained.

Stakeholders at the event point to broader structural challenges, including funding constraints and a shortage of skilled professionals, as barriers to faster adoption. While Nigeria has trained a number of engineers in IPv6 deployment through public and private initiatives, many have emigrated, creating a recurring talent deficit.

The council plans to train at least 50 additional professionals by October this year as part of its initial capacity-building efforts, with a longer-term goal of establishing a nationwide pipeline of certified engineers.

Funding remains another constraint. Much of the council’s current work is being supported through contributions from stakeholders, raising questions about the sustainability of large-scale implementation without dedicated financing mechanisms.

The strategy places significant emphasis on public sector leadership, requiring government ministries, departments, and agencies to migrate their digital infrastructure to dual-stack or IPv6-native systems.

Private sector players, including telecom operators, internet service providers, data centres, and financial institutions, are expected to follow suit by upgrading infrastructure and integrating IPv6 into procurement and network expansion plans.

The regulator is also expected to introduce incentives and standards to drive compliance, though details of these measures are yet to be fully outlined.

The transition to IPv6 is essential for scaling Nigeria’s digital economy, which is projected to generate more than $15bn in value, as well as for improving cybersecurity and enabling emerging technologies.

IPv6 offers a vastly expanded address space compared with IPv4, allowing for direct device-to-device connectivity and reducing reliance on network address translation, a workaround that can limit performance, traceability, and security.

Technology leaders warn that failure to accelerate adoption could deepen Nigeria’s technological dependence and erode its competitiveness.

“We cannot continue to rely on legacy systems while the rest of the world moves forward,” industry oracle Chris Uwaje said. “IPv6 adoption requires a national mindset shift, one that prioritises infrastructure, skills, and digital independence.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has raised the alarm over the circulation of false information claiming that it is selling refinery scrap materials, equipment, and components to individuals and private firms.

This was contained in a statement signed by the NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, on Friday. In the statement, the company categorically denied issuing any request for bids, tenders, expressions of interest, or approvals for the sale of scrap materials or refinery components from the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.

“NNPC Limited wishes to alert the public to the circulation of misleading and false information suggesting that the company is selling scrap materials, equipment, or components from its refineries to individuals and private companies,” the company said.

The NNPC stated that the claims being circulated were misleading and untrue, stressing that it has not authorised the sale of any items from the warehouses or inventories of its refineries.

“The company wishes to categorically state that this information is untrue. NNPC Limited has not issued any request for bids, tenders, expressions of interest, or approvals for the sale of scrap materials, refinery components, or any items from the warehouses or inventories of any of its refineries,” it was stated.

It also disclosed that it had received reports of individuals falsely presenting themselves as its representatives or agents, claiming to facilitate the sale of so-called scrap metals and refinery equipment.

It warned that such individuals are not authorised and are attempting to mislead members of the public. The NNPC, therefore, advised the public, corporate organisations, and industry stakeholders to disregard any such claims or solicitations, urging them to exercise caution when dealing with persons making such representations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, NNPC Limited is not conducting, nor has it authorised, any sale of scrap metals, equipment, or refinery components from any of its facilities,” the company stated.

It added that any legitimate disposal of assets would only be conducted through established and transparent processes, publicly communicated via its official channels, and in line with applicable regulations.

The oil firm further encouraged members of the public who encounter individuals or entities making such claims to report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. It reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of national energy assets.

“Any legitimate disposal of assets by NNPC Limited will only be conducted through established and transparent processes, publicly communicated through the company’s official channels, and in accordance with applicable regulations.

“Members of the public who encounter individuals or entities making such claims are encouraged to report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. NNPC Limited remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible management of national energy assets,” the statement concluded.

The three NNPC refineries have remained idle over the years as efforts to revive them proved abortive. While stakeholders expressed concerns that the refineries may never work again, the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, said they would be revived.

Coronation Group Limited, a leading African financial services conglomerate, has announced that GCR Ratings has upgraded its national-scale long- and short-term issuer ratings to A- and A1, respectively, from BBB+ and A2, with a Stable Outlook.

It stated in a statement on Friday that the rating action reflects sustained improvements in the Group’s capitalisation, earnings resilience, and balance sheet quality. “It also reinforces Coronation’s strong competitive position within Nigeria’s financial services sector and its ability to execute consistently across market cycles,” the firm stated.

It also noted that GCR pointed out that the upgrade is underpinned by Coronation’s strengthened capital base, improved earnings generation, and disciplined risk management, supported by a well-diversified operating model spanning asset management, investment banking, private markets, securities trading, trusteeship, and registrar business verticals.

In its commentary, GCR stated that the rating action reflects “the Group’s improved capitalisation, enhanced earnings capacity, and disciplined risk management, which collectively support a stronger credit profile and underpin the Stable Outlook.”

The Stable Outlook further reflects expectations that Coronation will maintain its current financial profile over the medium term, supported by internal capital generation, controlled risk appetite, and continued strategic execution.

Commenting on the upgrade, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Coronation Group Limited, Wole Onasanya, said, “This upgrade affirms the strength of our strategy, governance, and execution discipline. It reflects the deliberate steps we have taken to strengthen our capital base, enhance earnings quality, and build a resilient, diversified financial services platform.

“We remain focused on delivering sustainable long-term value to our clients and stakeholders, while maintaining a disciplined risk culture and positioning the Group for continued growth across our core markets.”

The upgrade positions Coronation within the upper tier of nationally rated financial institutions, strengthening its standing with counterparties, investors, and regulators. It also enhances the Group’s ability to access funding markets on more competitive terms as it continues to scale its operations.

Coronation remains focused on deepening its integrated platform, leveraging innovation, expertise, and strong governance to drive sustainable growth, while maintaining financial strength and resilience in an evolving macroeconomic environment.