In a move to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity and enhance internet service quality, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy,Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced the Nigerian government’s initiative to transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).
IPv6 represents the latest evolution of the Internet Protocol, crucial for identifying and locating devices on networks and efficiently managing internet traffic. The transition promises significant benefits, including improved service quality, enhanced protection against cyber threats, and better traffic management.
Speaking at the IPv6 Driven Digital Infrastructure Summit in Abuja, themed “Bring Net 5.5G into Reality, Inspire New Growth,” Tijani highlighted Nigeria’s position as a frontrunner in Africa’s IPv6 adoption. He commended the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and its partners for their efforts and called on Nigerian companies and service providers to embrace IPv6 as a standard practice.
“This global standard is still being adopted by many countries, with only a few, including the US, France, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, fully transitioned to IPv6. Nigeria’s early adoption signifies a major leap forward, allowing providers to offer enhanced services, secure systems from cyber threats, and efficiently manage traffic sources,” Tijani said.
NITDA’s Director-General, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, emphasized that the summit aimed to drive growth and innovation by raising awareness about IPv6, fostering stakeholder collaboration, and creating actionable strategies for broader adoption in Nigeria.
Inuwa clarified that transitioning to IPv6 does not require substantial new investments, as most modern devices are already compatible. The primary challenge lies in ensuring backward compatibility since IPv4 devices cannot communicate directly with IPv6 devices. He pointed out that the real barriers are strategic and operational, rather than technical, with many operators hesitant due to the extensive configuration changes involved.
Highlighting the economic potential of IPv6, Inuwa referred to research by Berger IPv6 Development, which suggests that embracing IPv6 could unlock a $10 trillion global market. “The transition to IPv6 will open up new markets and address our cybersecurity challenges. With the average African owning multiple internet-connected devices, IPv6 will provide each device with a unique identifier, improving security and expanding opportunities,” he explained.
Inuwa concluded by stressing the need for a comprehensive strategy and policy direction to support the migration from IPv4 to IPv6, emphasizing that this shift could stimulate significant economic activity and enhance cyberspace security.
Source: The Sun
