Seeking to enhance trust, adoption and ensure money circulates within the country rather than being lost to foreign platforms, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) confirmed it has deployed DNSSEC across the .ng domain, meaning the country’s internet addresses can now be verified and protected against cyber attacks.

At the unveiling, Adesola Akinsanya, NiRA president, said the move is meant to stop attackers from redirecting users to fake websites, a growing risk as more services move online.

“The successful deployment and unveiling of DNSSEC on the ng domain represents a defining moment for Nigeria’s internet ecosystem,” the President said.

Described as a long-awaited fix to a weak point in Nigeria’s digital system, DNSSEC provides all round protection. The internet already translates website names into numerical addresses, but it was built on trust. However, that trust can be exploited.

DNSSEC adds a verification layer, confirming that when a user types a .ng website, they are reaching the real destination, not a fake one set up by criminals.

If attackers control a domain’s routing, they can redirect traffic without hacking the website itself. DNSSEC is meant to block that route.

“This achievement did not happen overnight. It is as a result of years of commitment, collaboration and shared vision,” Adebiyi Oladipo, vice chair, ICANN ccNSO said.

The DNSSEC has now been fully signed and is in a monitoring phase, with a gradual rollout planned for registrars and domain owners.

The upgrade puts Nigeria in line with global standards and strengthens trust in local digital services.

Adoption, the bigger problem

The conversation went beyond technology to the issue of Nigerians not using .ng enough. Awareness is low, hence, the media is key to changing that.

Billions still leaving the country

Beyond perception, the economic argument cannot be ignored. NiRA said Nigeria loses billions every year to foreign domain registration and hosting services, as businesses choose .com and host their platforms abroad.

That money, they argued, should stay in the country, especially as local data centres now have the capacity to handle large-scale hosting.

NiRA also confirmed plans to work with organisations like the Corporate Affairs Commission to tie business registration more closely to domain ownership.

What comes next

NiRA is now pushing for adoption, with banks, telecom firms, government agencies and e-commerce platforms being asked to enable DNSSEC and move fully into the .ng space.

“This unveiling is not just about technology; it is about building trust in Nigeria’s digital future,” Oluwaseyi Onasanya, the COO said.

He made this known today, Thursday, December 4, at the ongoing Art of Technology Lagos 7.0, holding at the Landmark Event Centre.

Themed “Future Technologies & a Sustainable Lagos”, AOT Lagos 7.0 marks seven years of bringing together the city’s full innovation ecosystem, including founders, developers, entrepreneurs, financiers, academia, and policy-makers. 

Over those years the state has built a solid and broad infrastructure. “We are the de facto IT department for Lagos State,” Alake said, “managing connectivity, data centres, ERP systems, smart-city implementation, and driving public-service digitisation through government.”

Among the State’s achievements he disclosed that between 2019 and 2024, Lagos-based tech startups attracted over $6 billion in funding, representing more than 70% of Nigeria’s total tech investment inflows. 

Alake said that today the ecosystem is roughly valued at $15.3 billion, with Lagos accounting for 80–90% of the country’s startups, making it “the largest startup concentration on the continent.”

He explained how the state government is supporting this boom. Through Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC), more than 75 startups have been funded, and over 85 research and development initiatives across four to five major universities are currently supported. 

Some of these initiatives have already produced commendable results, including research patents and spin-off companies in areas like climate resilience, green energy, agritech and construction tech.

In addressing infrastructure, Alake disclosed that Lagos now has about 15,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables, having expanded connectivity by roughly 500 km per year on average. 

This fibre backbone supports public schools, hospitals, government buildings and businesses, a foundation for a truly digital Lagos.

On the public-service side, Alake pointed to the success of the Lagos State Digital Service Portal, launched at last year’s AOT. The portal has recorded over 50,000 unique visitors in the past 60 days alone, enabling citizens to file taxes, apply for planning permits or digital identity, and access other government services online. 

He said work is underway to enhance the portal into a unified gateway for all citizen and business services.

At AOT 7.0, Alake also announced the forthcoming Lagos Innovation Bill, a legal and regulatory framework designed to embed innovation in the state’s economic DNA. 

Once passed, the Bill will, among other things, require large companies in sectors such as telecoms, energy and infrastructure to collaborate with universities and research institutions when seeking solutions. 

For example, building local capacity to design base stations rather than importing equipment.

By 2030, Lagos plans to increase the contribution of IT and innovation to the state economy by 100%, and stimulate a 50% rise in scientific research and invention directed at solving Lagos-specific challenges. 

Alake said, “If you have a technical problem, Lagos is the place to solve it,” stressing that this vision requires “coordination, collaboration, and all of us, working hard, putting aside differences, and moving on shared vision.” 

He called on everyone in the ecosystem, including the government, private sector, academia, investors, and citizens, to contribute.

The ultimate goal is to make innovation a permanent feature of Lagos’ economic and social life.

In the spirit of Customer Service Week, the mobility giant rolled out a series of activities and giveaways across Nigeria to appreciate its drivers and riders. Themed “Bolt Says Thanks” and “Our Daily Heroes,” the celebration is more about gratitude to those who make the platform function day after day.

For drivers, Bolt is dishing out commendable rewards. About 300 drivers across 10 cities are receiving ₦5,000 Chicken Republic meal vouchers, a small but heartfelt nod to their daily grind. 

In Lagos, 150 drivers will get something extra; a proper lunch at the Bolt Driver Engagement Centre on Thursday. The company promises a day of good food, laughter, and lucky dips, where the spin of a wheel could win a prize or two.

Riders, too, aren’t being left out. At Ikeja City Mall (ICM), Bolt is setting up an activation hub where customers can engage in games and walk away with prizes. For the digital crowd, the company is also hosting an Instagram Bingo game with a tempting reward; ₦1 million worth of ride credit for one lucky winner.

And that’s not all. Throughout the Customer Service Week, Bolt plans to hand out more surprises, including spa sessions, shopping vouchers, and even more meal vouchers, as tokens of appreciation for loyal users who have made Bolt their preferred choice in a fiercely competitive market.

Speaking on the initiative, Osi Oguah, General Manager, Bolt Nigeria, said: “At Bolt, we believe our drivers and riders are the real heroes who make what we do possible every single day. This week is about saying thank you to them for their dedication, loyalty, and the positive spirit they bring to our community. ‘Bolt Says Thanks’ is our way of celebrating their everyday efforts and showing that we truly appreciate them.”

For Bolt, the celebration is a statement of value, not just about giving gifts. In spotlighting the people behind the app, the company stresses a message usually lost in corporate noise: no algorithm can replace human effort.

As Customer Service Week unfolds, we see that while technology may boost the operations of Bolt, it’s the people behind the wheel and in the backseat who truly drive the brand forward.

The launch supports Bolt’s broader commitment to delivering a high-quality ride-hailing experience built around safety, convenience, and everyday usability.

Family Profile is designed to make ride-hailing more practical for families and support networks. Internal data shows that 2–6% of Bolt rides are currently ordered for someone other than the account holder, often requiring manual coordination and sharing of trip details. 

The new feature simplifies that process, offering a built-in solution that allows customers to invite others to join their profile, set monthly spending limits, and receive live trip notifications. Members can request rides independently if they use the app, while the account holder retains oversight.

Family accounts do not change Bolt’s core policies around rider eligibility. Each member added to a Family Profile must have their own Bolt account and meet the platform’s minimum age requirement of 18. This means the feature cannot be used to book rides for unaccompanied minors. 

These age restrictions are in place for legal and safety reasons and ensure that all riders using the feature remain subject to Bolt’s existing terms and conditions.

The feature is especially helpful for parents, caregivers, or anyone supporting older relatives who may not use smartphones or ride-hailing apps regularly.

Data shows that ride-hail usage is growing fastest among older adults, but practical barriers, like app complexity or payment requirements, still limit adoption. 

Family Profile helps close that gap by letting one person handle ride management and payments for others, even if they don’t use the Bolt app themselves.

In addition to greater flexibility, Family Profile offers account holders enhanced financial control and peace of mind. They can monitor ride activity per member, receive real-time alerts when trips start or end, and take immediate action if needed, for example, checking a ride’s live location or contacting the rider or driver in the event of an unexpected route or stop.

The launch of Family Profile complements Bolt’s ongoing investment in building a world-class ride-hailing platform. Bolt engineers continue to improve the app’s routing, mapping, and usability to meet the evolving expectations of riders and drivers.

Family Profile joins a growing set of features aimed at building trust and enhancing platform safety.

Existing safety tools available in the app include trip verification codes, live location sharing, emergency assistance, and ride monitoring by Bolt’s dedicated Safety Team.

Osi Oguah, country manager, Bolt Nigeria said: “At Bolt, we want to make ride-hailing work for the way people actually move. Family Profile is a simple but powerful way to support others, whether that’s older relatives, or anyone you care about, without needing to coordinate every trip. It’s about control, visibility, and freedom in one feature, and we’re excited to bring it to our customers in Nigeria.”