Nigeria Accelerates Transition to IPv6 With Reconstituted Council

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has formally launched a new board for the Nigerian Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) Council, signaling the nation’s commitment to transitioning from the older IPv4 protocol. The inauguration took place in Ikeja, Lagos, with Muhammed Rudman, CEO of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), retaining his position as Chairman.

The move comes amid growing global demand for IP addresses that exceeds available supply under IPv4. Former board members like Olusola Teniola, Funke Opeke, Mary Uduma, and Lanre Ajayi were recognized for their foundational contributions to Nigeria’s IPv6 journey.

The reconstituted council features NCC as Co-Chairman alongside Rudman, with representatives from NITDA, ATCON, NIRA, ALTON, ISPON, and NgREN serving as board members. Dr Chris Uwaje and Prof. Latif Ladid continue as advisors.

“The transition to IPv6 is a strategic national priority,” Rudman emphasized. “It’s essential for enabling Nigeria’s digital transformation, economic growth, and global competitiveness.” He highlighted IPv6’s role in supporting emerging technologies like 5G and IoT while offering improved security and performance compared to legacy solutions.

The council’s action plan focuses on two key initiatives: raising national awareness about IPv6 through events and workshops, and building technical capacity by providing specialized training for network engineers across various sectors. This includes ISPs, telecom companies, educational institutions, and financial organizations.

With the council now operational, Nigerian enterprises and network providers are expected to upgrade their systems to ensure continued participation in the global digital economy.