Boost for digital economy as NCC launches IPv6 roadmap, sets 2030 target

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a national roadmap aimed at accelerating the adoption of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), with a target of achieving about 30 per cent nationwide usage by 2030.

The roadmap was unveiled in Lagos during the inauguration of the Nigeria IPv6 Council, an industry body established to drive implementation across both public and private sectors.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, described the shift from IPv4 to IPv6 as vital for Nigeria’s digital future. He warned that continued dependence on the older protocol could hinder growth in emerging technologies.
Maida noted that global IPv4 addresses have largely been exhausted, even as demand for internet connectivity continues to increase due to advancements in 5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
According to the roadmap, at least 20 per cent of government networks are expected to be IPv6-compliant by 2027, while a minimum of 25 per cent of telecom operators are to begin active deployment. Overall adoption is projected to grow from the current level of about five per cent to 30 per cent by the end of the decade.
The newly inaugurated council will oversee the rollout, track progress, and recommend policies to speed up adoption. It is also expected to collaborate with technical partners, including the African Network Information Centre, to address gaps in network engineering capacity.
Industry data indicate that Nigeria currently trails global averages, with IPv6 adoption at roughly five per cent compared to over 40 per cent worldwide. Although many networks have obtained IPv6 allocations, only a few have fully deployed the protocol.
Stakeholders attribute the slow pace of adoption to factors such as high infrastructure costs, limited technical expertise, and low awareness among users. The continued functionality of IPv4 has also reduced the urgency for transition.
To tackle these challenges, the council plans to train more professionals, expand technical capacity, and encourage both public institutions and private operators to upgrade their systems to support IPv6.
The NCC emphasized that the transition is crucial for scaling Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthening cybersecurity, and enabling next-generation technologies, adding that coordinated efforts across sectors will be essential to achieving the set targets.