Nigeria risks falling behind as IPv6 adoption stalls at 5%, as stakeholders target 30% nationwide adoption by 2030

Nigeria risks falling behind as IPv6 adoption stalls at 5%, as stakeholders target 30% nationwide adoption by 2030

Nigeria may fall behind in the global digital economy as adoption of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) remains low at about five percent, far below the global average of over 40 percent, industry leaders have warned.

IPv6 is the latest version of the internet addressing system that allows devices such as phones, computers, and smart machines to connect directly to the internet using unique addresses.

It was introduced to replace the older IPv4 system, which has run out of available addresses due to the rapid growth of internet users and connected devices. Unlike IPv4, IPv6 provides a much larger number of addresses, making it easier to support modern technologies like 5G, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things.

Muhammed Rudman, the chief executive officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), at the inauguration of the Nigeria IPv6 Council, on Thursday, in Lagos, said the slow transition from IPv4 is largely due to weak demand, limited awareness, and the continued availability of the older system.

“Most users just want internet access. They do not care whether it is IPv4 or IPv6. That is why operators are not under pressure to migrate, even though the future depends on it,” Rudman said.

Despite Nigeria’s large digital market, Rudman said many network operators already have IPv6 capability but are not fully deploying it to customers. He noted that only a small number of networks currently provide IPv6 services to end users.

Nigeria currently trails even the African average of about six percent, raising concerns that the country could struggle to keep up with global technology trends.

Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the situation requires urgent action, describing IPv6 as critical to Nigeria’s digital future, security, and economic growth.

“IPv6 is no longer optional. It is a strategic necessity. The investments we make today will determine Nigeria’s digital competitiveness tomorrow,” Maida said.

To address the gap, the NCC and the Nigeria IPv6 Council have introduced a National IPv6 Implementation Strategy aimed at accelerating adoption across sectors.

The plan targets at least 20 percent of government networks and 25 percent of telecom operators to adopt IPv6 by 2027, with broader national adoption expected by 2030.

Rudman said capacity building is also a priority, with plans to train at least 50 professionals by October as part of efforts to deepen technical knowledge in the country.

However, he warned that Nigeria faces a growing skills gap, as many trained engineers are leaving the country, slowing progress.

Industry experts say reliance on IPv4, supported by technologies such as Network Address Translation (NAT), is also delaying migration. While NAT allows multiple users to share a single IP address, it creates challenges for security, performance, and future innovation.

Technology leader Chris Uwaje said Nigeria must rethink its approach to digital infrastructure to achieve true digital sovereignty.

“We cannot continue to depend on outdated systems while the world is moving forward,” he said.

Analysts say countries that delay IPv6 adoption risk higher costs in the future, slower innovation, and reduced competitiveness in emerging technologies.

With global internet traffic increasingly shifting to IPv6, stakeholders warn that Nigeria must act quickly or risk being left behind in the next phase of the digital economy.