NCC Launches Roadmap to Boost Nigeria's IPv6 Adoption

On Thursday, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) unveiled a strategic roadmap aimed at increasing Nigeria's adoption of Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) from the current rate of approximately 5% to 30% by 2030. The initiative was launched during the inauguration of the Nigeria IPv6 Council in Lagos.

Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida highlighted the critical need for Nigeria to transition from the legacy IPv4 system to IPv6 to avoid constraints on growth and ensure economic sovereignty. The roadmap outlines that at least 20% of government networks are expected to be IPv6 compliant by 2027, with a minimum of 25% of telecom operators deploying the protocol nationwide.

The council will coordinate the implementation across sectors and monitor progress, while also addressing the skills gap in the network engineering industry. The NCC aims to align Nigeria's IPv6 adoption with global benchmarks, as the current rate lags behind the global average of over 40%.

The initiative underscores the urgency for investment in infrastructure and training to facilitate this transition.