News
Johnson Commends NiRA, Registrars on .ng Domain Name Impacts
Dr Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology has commended the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and the Registrars for their resolves to exploit the uniqueness of the .ng domain name in projecting the international relevance of Nigeria’s Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).
Johnson made the remark while commissioning NiRA office complex at 8 Funsho Willaims Avenue, Iponri, Suru-Lere, Lagos, on Friday.
The Minister also encouraged the accredited Registrars to double their efforts to serving the internet community locally and register .ng domain name on behalf of the Registrants worldwide and become big players like the “GoDaddy” of USA.
She identified .ng domain name as the country’s unique identity in the cyberspace.
“It is ours and our internet economy grows in leaps and bounds, we must proudly secure our identity in cyberspace. I therefore assure Nigerians that we are in for eccit.i.ng times”.
She recalled that the NiRA House commissioned on Friday, was purchased from the proceeds of past sales of premium domain names, validating the fact that the business and wealth creation opportunities in the domain name registration industry are significant.
The property serves, mot only as the operational headquarters of NiRA, but also provides a resource centre for training and certification in Domain Name System (DNS), an e-library for research in DNS, fully furnished offices for short term hiring, and a canteen.
“I am fully assured that the Executive Board of Directors will ensure sustainable good use of the premises,” Johnson said, while acknowledging the contributions of the Ministry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and other stakeholders in keeping NiRA’s dreams alive.
On her part, Mrs. Mary Nma Uduma, president of NiRA said, “For us at NIRA it’s a dream come true, looking back from our humble beginning, when we started from nothing, our sustainance then was out of the goodwill of our stakeholders, people of like interests/mind in the DNS industry as well as some members of the Association.
“NiRA’s office was a single room in a residential apartment in SuruLere, Lagos before NITDA gave us an office space at Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“The success of NIRA cannot be complete, without appreciating our supervising Government Agencies; Ministry of Communication Technology (COMTECH), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), our stakeholders such Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and other ICT stakeholders.
“I would also seize this moment to appreciate and thank our Board of Trustees, my colleagues on the Executive Board of Directors, staff of NiRA, our Accredited Registrars, Registrants, members of the Association and the public for their immense contributions.
“My joy is that history will not forget us because victory is ours and all achievements of NiRA are for the development of our nation Nigeria”.
NiRA was founded on March 23, 2005 as a stakeholder-led organisation, charged with the management of the Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain Name (ccTLD), dot ng.
The transfer of the appropriate management of this important National Resource was coordinated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on behalf of the Federal government of Nigeria. Stakeholders within Nigeria’s Internet community participated in its formation. It was registered as an Incorporated Trustee on February 9, 2007.
NIRA’s formation brought to an end the long years of controversy in the country, over the management of this critical national resource, following the intervention of the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The re-delegation of the .ng ccTLD came nearly 12 years after the country code was hosted first in Italy, and later by Mr Randy Bush, an American.
While Mr Bush was the technical contact for the ccTLD, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote served as the administrative contact.
NIRA’s Constitution was adopted by Stakeholders, at a meeting held on March 28, 2006. A Board of Trustees (BoT) was elected among the stakeholders with Dr. Isaac A. Odeyemi as the pioneer Chairman, shortly after the adoption of the Constitution.
By May 1, 2007, the first Executive Board of NIRA was elected with Engr. Ndukwe Kalu of blessed memory leading a 10-man Board.
Dr Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, Mary Nma Uduma, president of NiRA and, executive board members of NiRA other invited guests during the commissioning of NiRA House on Friday.
Adedapo Segun, chief financial officer (CFO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has explained why there is a missing sum of N210 trillion in the company’s audited financial statement spanning from 2017 to 2023.
According to Segun, the missing funds are cash calls requested by joint venture (JV) partners and settlement to the JVs.
He spokeat a session of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Aliyu Wadada.
Segun was responding to an alarm raised by the committee over missing N210 trillion in NNPCL’s audited financial statement.
Recall that Wadada issued a one-week ultimatum to NNPCL to account for the missing N210 trillion.
Reacting, Segun said, “The N103 trillion and N107 trillion are made up of joint venture cash calls that have been requested by the JV operators and JV cash call payments made by NNPCL, which are yet to be reconciled because governance procedures were not done at that time.
“That is why you see the description reflecting those two items would be washed out because they are two sides of the same transaction, which is the cash calls by JV partners and the settlement by NNPCL.”
However, Habu Sadeik, a financial analyst, in a post on X on Thursday, said Segun’s response was unsatisfactory.
Saidik faulted NNPCL’s response about the fund discrepancies, noting that something is not right with the audited financial statement.
“Forget about the senators’ lack of knowledge.
“The CFO’s response is not satisfactory. Are you saying that cash calls worth hundreds of trillions are just appearing on your FS only in 2024 without 31 disclosure?
“If it’s a cash call, why hasn’t the disclosure said so?
“Which cash call is over 100 trillion?
“Something is definitely not right, and I hope they retrospectively correct that FS.
“Someone somewhere did a chef’s work,” he wrote on X.
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading fintech company, has partnered with Globacom to launch the second edition of the “Recharge and Win Bonanza” campaign. The promotion, which runs from June 19th to August 8th, 2025, offers Nigerians the chance to win amazing prizes when they purchase Glo airtime and data via the PalmPay app.
According to a joint statement by PalmPay and Globacom, “A weekly live raffle draw will be held and streamed on PalmPay’s official social media channels throughout the campaign. Customers who make Glo transactions through the PalmPay app will be eligible to win prizes, including the iPhone 15 Pro, Infinix Hot 40, and other exciting items”.
To participate, interested customers can log onto http://bit.ly/PalmPaySms .
The statement added that all transaction above N500 gives participants an extra shot at winning, adding that daily social media challenges will also offer participants a chance to win cash prizes.
Additionally, PalmPay users can enjoy up to 6% cashback when they buy Glo airtime and data through the PalmPay app. As an added bonus, customers who have not subscribed to a Glo data plan in the last 90 days will receive a 100% bonus on their recharge during the campaign period.
Wayne Ruppel, Head of Billers at PalmPay Limited expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that, “This collaboration is a major step in our mission to deliver MORE – more support, more rewards, and more innovation to our customers.
Partnering with Glo, a leader in the telecommunications sector, is a testament to our shared commitment to improving everyday experiences for all Nigerians. We are excited to reward our users and encourage everyone to take full advantage of this exciting opportunity.
Globacom also expressed delight at creating additional value for its subscribers through unique customer-appreciation schemes.
“Our partnership with PalmPay on the “Recharge and Win Bonanza perfectly underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional value and experiences. Over the years, we have always sought innovative ways to enrich the lives of our customers. We, therefore, enjoin our subscribers to utilize the opportunity provided by the bonanza and enjoy the many benefits it offers”, the company stated.
PalmPay and Glo will collaborate throughout the campaign period to deliver exceptional customer experience, reward loyalty, and reinforce their shared mission to make digital transactions more accessible, rewarding, and secure for millions of Nigerians.
News
UK Reaffirms 99% Duty-Free Access for Nigerian Exports Under Developing Countries Trading Scheme
United Kingdom has reiterated its long-term commitment to strengthening economic ties with Nigeria, confirming that 99% of Nigerian goods will continue to enjoy duty-free access to the UK market under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).
Dr. Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria
The announcement reinforces the UK’s intention to bolster sustainable trade with Nigeria, boost export competitiveness, and promote inclusive economic growth across both nations. Introduced in June 2023, the DCTS is designed to reduce tariffs and simplify export rules for developing economies. It currently benefits 37 African countries, with Nigeria being a key player.
Nigerian exporters are set to gain substantial advantages from the scheme, which allows over 3,000 products—ranging from cocoa, plantain, and shrimp to processed items like cocoa paste, palm oil, and cotton garments—to enter the UK duty-free or with reduced tariffs. This shift supports value addition in Nigeria’s export ecosystem, encouraging the move from raw to processed exports.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, said: > “Nigeria stands at the heart of the UK’s global trade ambitions. This isn’t just about improved market access—it’s about building a fairer, freer global trading system that supports economic growth and job creation, both in developing countries and in the UK.”
He further noted that through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), the UK continues to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) to tackle export challenges and maximise opportunities under the scheme.
The DCTS aligns with broader UK efforts to expand trade relations across the globe, complementing recent agreements with nations such as India and the United States.
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