Nigeria is stepping up efforts to modernize its internet infrastructure, appointing Muhammed Rudman, Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, as Chairman of the newly reconstituted Nigeria IPv6 Council – a move signaling stronger institutional backing for the country’s transition to next-generation internet protocols. Nigeria moves to accelerate Next-Generation internet with IPv6 push

The inauguration, attended by senior leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission including its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, and top commissioners, also marked the launch of Nigeria’s Draft National IPv6 Strategy Implementation Document. The policy framework outlines a roadmap for expanding adoption of IPv6, the protocol designed to replace IPv4 and enable a vastly larger pool of internet addresses. Nigeria currently has 5% of IPV6, which is lower than the 6% Africa average.

Industry stakeholders view the transition as critical for sustaining Nigeria’s digital growth, as the country faces increasing demand from mobile users, cloud services, and connected devices. IPv4 exhaustion has long posed a structural constraint, particularly in fast-growing markets where device penetration is rising sharply.

“The task ahead is clear: to move from awareness to implementation. With the right regulatory backing and industry collaboration, Nigeria can accelerate IPv6 adoption and unlock the next phase of digital development,” Mr. Rudman said in an exclusive with Africa Hyperscalers, emphasizing the need for coordinated action across government, telecom operators, internet service providers and enterprise networks. He is expected to lead advocacy, policy alignment and ecosystem engagement efforts under the council.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has made significant progress in expanding connectivity over the past decade, driven by mobile broadband rollout and investments in fiber and data centers. Institutions such as IXPN have played a central role in localizing internet traffic, improving latency and reducing costs. However, experts say the next phase of growth will depend on deeper infrastructure modernization, including widespread IPv6 deployment.

The newly launched strategy document is expected to guide implementation across sectors, addressing technical migration, capacity building, regulatory incentives and public-private coordination. While adoption of IPv6 has been gradual globally, countries that have successfully transitioned, particularly in Asia, have demonstrated gains in scalability, network efficiency and future readiness.

For Nigeria, the stakes extend beyond technical performance. Policymakers increasingly see digital infrastructure as foundational to economic diversification, innovation and participation in the global digital economy. Expanding address capacity through IPv6 is viewed as essential to supporting emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart infrastructure and advanced cloud services.

With Mr. Rudman now at the helm of the council, industry participants say the focus will shift from policy articulation to execution, ensuring that Nigeria’s internet ecosystem is equipped to handle the scale and complexity of future demand.

Further reading:

• Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) → https://ixp.net.ng/
• Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) digital infrastructure initiatives → https://ncc.gov.ng