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Cheap .ng Domain Registration in Nigeria (2026): Prices, Registrars and Rules

Ade Adeniyi

November 2, 2026

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Last updated: 2 November 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy

Checked 2 November 2026. A Nigerian domain name such as yourbusiness.com.ng or yourbrand.ng tells customers at a glance that you operate in Nigeria, and it can cost less than a .com for the first year. But first-year promotions hide a bigger renewal bill, a few extensions need paperwork, and domain scams are common. Choosing the right registrar and extension at the start saves money and stress later.

This guide compares .ng, .com.ng and .org.ng prices at Nigerian registrars that publish them, explains first-year versus renewal pricing, the NiRA rules and documents for restricted extensions, how to transfer a domain, WHOIS privacy, basic DNS set-up, bundling with hosting and the scams to avoid. It is about the domain name itself; for hosting, see our guide to affordable web hosting for small businesses in Lagos.

How .ng domains work: NiRA and accredited registrars

The .ng country-code domain is managed by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the registry. NiRA does not sell domains directly to the public. Instead, you buy through a NiRA accredited registrar, and registrars set their own retail prices. NiRA’s public portal, register.ng, lists accredited registrars and says registrations are approved on a first-come, first-served basis under NiRA’s domain name policy. Domains can be registered for 1 to 10 years.

Before paying any seller, check that it appears on NiRA’s accredited registrar list, or that it is a reseller of a listed registrar and will put the domain in your name.

Open and closed .ng extensions

NiRA divides second-level extensions into open zones, which need no documents except in special cases, and closed zones, which need documentation and verification.

• Open: .ng, .com.ng, .org.ng, .net.ng, .name.ng, .i.ng and .mobi.ng.
• Closed: .edu.ng (for approved and accredited degree-awarding tertiary institutions), .sch.ng (for schools), .gov.ng and .mil.ng (for government and military bodies).

Documents for restricted extensions

• .gov.ng and .mil.ng: according to NITDA, the institution provides a scanned authorisation letter signed by its head or the next officer in line, addressed to NiRA’s Chief Operating Officer, with at least two name servers and admin and technical contacts (name, designation, phone and email). NiRA sends it to NITDA for verification. NITDA says it charges no fee for .gov.ng itself and approves complete, verified requests within 24 hours, although registrars charge their own fees.
• .sch.ng: registrars ask for an authorisation letter on the school’s letterhead requesting the domain, plus supporting details about the school.
• .edu.ng: only for approved and accredited degree-awarding tertiary institutions, with proof of that status.

For open extensions you simply need accurate contact details: your name or business name, address, phone number and a working email address. Use a business name you own; our guide to registering a business name in Nigeria explains the CAC process.

.ng vs .com.ng vs .org.ng: which should you pick?

• .com.ng is the most common choice for Nigerian businesses. It is cheap to start and renew, and customers recognise it.
• .ng is shorter and more brandable (for example, brand.ng), but costs about twice as much to renew as .com.ng.
• .org.ng suits NGOs, churches, mosques, associations and community groups.
• .name.ng is a low-cost option for a personal website, portfolio or professional email address.

If you sell to customers abroad as well, consider also registering the .com of your name and pointing it to the same site. If your name is a brand you want to protect, read our guide to trademark registration in Nigeria, because a domain on its own does not give you legal rights to a name.

2026 prices at Nigerian registrars

These are prices shown on registrars’ own websites on 2 November 2026, for one year, excluding hosting. First-year prices are often promotional; the renewal price is what you will pay every year after.

*QServers renewal prices are from its February 2025 announcement of a NiRA-related price increase (.ng renewal ₦15,000; .com.ng renewal ₦7,000). “Not shown” means the renewal price was not on the page we checked; ask before you buy. Confirm each registrar’s accreditation on NiRA’s list.

First-year vs renewal: the real cost

A ₦3,000 .com.ng looks cheap, but at WhoGoHost’s listed renewal price your second year costs ₦7,200. Over three years that is about ₦17,400, not ₦9,000. For a .ng at ₦9,200 then ₦15,600 a year, three years cost about ₦40,400. Compare the three-year total, not just the headline price. Paying for two or more years at once can protect you from mid-term price rises, which have happened before: QServers said its February 2025 increase followed adjustments by NiRA.

How to register a .ng domain, step by step

1. Search for your name on a registrar’s website or on register.ng.
2. Pick the extension and the number of years.
3. Create your account with your own email address and phone number, not your web designer’s.
4. Enter registrant details accurately: your full name or registered business name.
5. Pay through the registrar’s official checkout and keep the invoice.
6. Turn on auto-renewal or set calendar reminders well before the expiry date.

Most open-zone domains are active within minutes to a few hours, though some registrars quote up to 24 to 48 hours.

Transferring a .ng domain to another registrar

• Log in to your current registrar’s panel and make sure the domain is unlocked.
• Request the transfer or authorisation (EPP) code.
• Start the transfer at the new registrar, enter the code and pay the transfer fee (at WhoGoHost, the transfer fee equals the renewal price, and usually adds a year).
• Approve any confirmation email and wait for the transfer to complete.

Do not wait until the last week before expiry, and check your contact email is current, as confirmations go there. Ask both registrars about any lock period after a recent registration or contact change.

What happens if your domain expires

Under NiRA’s domain name life cycle policy, an expired .ng domain first enters a renewal grace period (registrars describe this as about 60 days), then a 28-day redemption period, during which recovery usually costs extra, before deletion. Once deleted, anyone can register it. Your website and email stop working as soon as the domain lapses, so renew early.

WHOIS and privacy

Registration details are held by the registry and shown in WHOIS lookups subject to NiRA’s policies and privacy settings. Some registrars include WHOIS privacy; ask what is displayed publicly. Whatever is shown, keep your registrant details accurate: false details can put your domain at risk in a dispute, and you need a working email to approve transfers and renewals.

DNS set-up basics

• Name servers: point your domain to your host’s name servers (often shown as ns1 and ns2) if your host manages everything.
• A record: points the domain to your server’s IP address.
• CNAME: points a subdomain such as www or shop to another name.
• MX records: route email to your email provider.
• TXT records: verify ownership for Google, Microsoft and others and set SPF and DKIM for email delivery.

DNS changes can take from a few minutes to 24 to 48 hours to spread.

Bundling with hosting: does it save money?

Many Nigerian hosts offer a free or discounted domain for the first year with a hosting plan. That can be good value, but check the renewal prices of both the domain and the hosting, and make sure you can move the domain later if you change host. Keeping your domain at a separate registrar from your host is fine and can make switching hosts easier. If you are starting a website or blog, see our step-by-step guide to starting a blog in Nigeria and how to make money blogging. Selling online? Our guide to starting a Shopify store with little money shows how to connect a custom domain.

How to avoid domain scams

• Fake renewal or “domain expiry” emails: they look official but ask you to pay a new account. Renew only inside your registrar’s panel.
• Unlisted sellers: check the seller against NiRA’s registrar list or confirm who its registrar is.
• Domains registered in someone else’s name: designers or agents sometimes register your domain under their own details and later charge to release it. Insist on being the registrant.
• “Lifetime” domain offers: .ng domains are registered for 1 to 10 years, not for life.
• Requests for your transfer code or login: never share them with anyone you did not hire.

More general tips are in our guide on how to avoid internet scams.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest .ng domain in Nigeria?

Among the prices we checked, .name.ng at WhoGoHost was ₦2,000 a year, and .com.ng first-year promotions started at ₦3,000. Renewal prices are higher for .com.ng.

Can a foreigner or someone abroad register a .com.ng domain?

Yes. .com.ng and .ng are open zones, so you do not need documents, though you must give accurate contact details.

Do I need a CAC certificate to register .com.ng?

No. Open zones such as .com.ng do not need documents. Closed zones such as .edu.ng, .sch.ng and .gov.ng do.

How long does .ng domain registration take?

Open-zone domains are usually active within minutes to 48 hours. Closed zones take longer because documents must be verified.

Is .ng or .com.ng better for SEO?

Both are Nigerian country-code domains and signal a Nigerian audience. Choose the one customers will remember and that fits your budget for renewals.

Can I register a .ng domain directly with NiRA?

No. NiRA only works through accredited registrars, which set the retail prices.

Disclaimer: this guide is general information based on registrar websites, NiRA’s register.ng portal and policy documents, and NITDA’s domain registration page available on 2 November 2026. Prices, promotions and rules change, so confirm with the registrar and NiRA before buying. Registrars named are examples, not endorsements.