.ng terms&conditions

NIRA DOMAINAME POLICY
Version 1.0, May 5, 2008
IMPORTA
T: The purpose of this document is to describe the NIRA ("We", "Our" or "Us") rules for the
registration and use of domain names within the .ng domain and its sub-domains (the "Policy"). The policy
as amended from time to time form part of our Registrant Agreement and are part of your contract of
registration with us.
1. Domain
ame Definitions
1.1 <internet.com.ng> is a domain name ("Domain Name"). A Domain Name is made up of several
levels of domains. In the Domain Name <internet.com.ng> the <.ng> is called the top or first
level domain, the <.com> is the second level domain and <internet> is the third level domain.
In the Domain Name <fourth.internet.com.ng> the domain <fourth> is called a fourth level
domain and <.internet> is a third level domain, <.com> is a second level domain and <.ng> is a
top level domain.
In this Policy the terms top level domain ("TLD"), second level domain ("SLD") and third level
domain ("3LD") and fourth level domain ("4LD") will be used accordingly
1.2 The SLD is a sub-domain of the TLD. The 3LD is a sub-domain of the SLD. The 4LD is a subdomain
of the Third Level Domain.
1.3 .ng Domain Names can only be registered within a particular SLD. For example the Domain
Name internet.com.ng is registered within the .com SLD.
1.4 Despite 1.3 above the Executive Board of NIRA may auction or sell at a premium limited
domains on the second level.
1.5 When an application for registration of a Domain Name is submitted to us by you, or on your
behalf, you are an applicant. If your application is successful your Domain Name will be registered
by us and you will be the registrant.
2. Registration of Domain
ames
2.1 The Policy has been made by us in our capacity as designated manager for the .ng TLD with the
authority of the Nigerian Internet Community.
2.2 Each application by you for a Domain Name must be an application to register one 3LD within
one particular SLD listed in Appendix A. Or in the case of section 1.4 above, application can be for a
domain at the second level.
2.3 Certain organizations have registered Domain Names with us and these organizations may offer
to register a 4LD for you as a sub-domain of their Domain Name. We do not accept responsibility for
any registration of 4LD by you with other organizations, nor do we control the naming of these 4LD
by this Policy or otherwise.
2.4 Each SLD listed in Appendix A has its own specific rules ("SLD Rules"). All of the SLD Rules
form part of the Policy. Where there is a conflict between the Policy and the SLD Rules, the SLD
Rules take precedence.
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2.5 If your application to register a Domain Name within an SLD listed in Appendix A is successful,
this in no way entitles you to any right to or registration of any other Domain Name. For example an
application to register the Domain Name internet.com.ng will not entitle you to a registration for the
Domain Name internet.xyz.com.ng or the Domain Name internet.org.ng.
3. General Rules
3.1 We reserve the right to check your application for compliance with the Policy either before or
after your Domain Name is registered or renewed with us.
3.2 We will accept applications which comply with the Policy and register Domain Names on a first
come first served basis. This means that, except where set out in the SLD Rules, we will not vet your
application to:
1. restrict who may apply for and register Domain Names; or
2. restrict which Domain Names may be held by you; or
3. restrict the number of Domain Names which may be held by you.
3.3 If your application is for a Domain Name which is identical to a Domain Name which has
already been registered with us, your application will be rejected. Note that domain names are not
case sensitive, so that internet.com.ng is the same as InTeRnEt.com.ng, and accordingly cannot be
separately registered. Thus this Policy is drafted on the assumption that all letters are lower case.
3.4 We do not impose restrictions on your status as applicant for the registration of a Domain Name
in the following SLDs ("Open SLDs"):
• .com.ng; or
• .org.ng.
• .mobi.ng
• .name.ng
We do set out certain intentions regarding the class of applicant or use of registrations of the Domain
Name which we assume you will comply with when applying for a registration of a Domain Name
within an Open SLD. However, we will take no action in respect of registrations that do not comply
with the SLD Charters. We may request certain information from you regarding your legal identity
when you make an application for or seek to amend the registration of a Domain Name in the Open
SLDs.
3.5 For any application by you for a Domain Name within the remaining available SLDs listed in
Appendix A ("Closed SLDs") we do specify certain criteria in the "Requirements on Applicants"
section of the SLD Rules which you must comply with before your application for a Domain Name
in a Closed SLD can be accepted by us.
3.6 As set out in our Registrant Agreement, we may cancel or suspend the registration of a Domain
Name if you breach any of the Rules.
4. Restrictions on Domain
ames
4.1 If the 3LD in your application does not meet the requirements in this section then your
application cannot be accepted by us.
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4.2 The 3LD may only contain the following thirty-seven characters ("Characters") or a combination
thereof:
4.2.1 the twenty-six unaccented Roman letters (i.e. a-z inclusive);
4.2.2 the ten western digits (i.e. 0-9 inclusive); and
4.2.3 hyphens.
4.3 The first or last Characters of a 3LD may not be a hyphen.
4.4 NIRA does not offer Internationalised Domain Names for now and so domain names that start
with the characters "xn--" (i.e. "xn" followed by two dashes) may not be registered.
4.5 A Third Level Domain may not be one Character long. For example, an application to register
1.com.ng or a.com.ng would be rejected. Except offered by auction at the second or third level.
4.6 For the SLDs com.ng, name.ng, org.ng, and net.ng, mobi.ng, a Third Level Domain may not
consist of only two letters. For example, an application to register ie.com.ng, -a.com.ng or e-.com.ng
would be rejected. Again as above an exception is allowed when offered by auction. Also NIRA
would not offer for auction and two letter acronym which is a validly registered trademark in
Nigeria.
4.7 Until further notice, the Domain Name (e.g. internet.com.ng) may not be more than sixty-four
Characters long in total, including the SLD and TLD. We intend to allow longer domain names, and
would update the policy accordingly.
4.8 For the SLDs com.ng, name.ng, org.ng, and net.ng, mobi.ng, a 3LD may not be identical to any
existing SLD (as listed in Appendices A,to the Policy), or any SLD under .ng the creation of which
has formally been announced by NIRA. For example, an application to register org.com.ng or
name.com.ng would be rejected.
4.9 Irrespective of the above NIRA shall reserve the right to maintain the following list of domains
that SHALL NOT be available for registration or will be withdrawn if registered already
• Offensive
ames: This list shall contain words as determined by the NIRA board to be
offensive first to the Nigerian community and then to the global community. ALL requests
for domains under this list would be rejected.
• Restricted
ames: This shall be a list of domains that may give a wrong impression if used.
This could pertain to military, government or other related words. ALL applications for these
domains would be rejected.
• Premium
ames: These are domains with generic words ONLY but command premium
value. These domains would be made available to registrants though a competitive bidding
and auction process.
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5. Appendices
APPE
DIX A Our SLDs (second level domains)
Domain SLD purpose
com.ng Commercial entities and purposes (Open)
edu.ng Higher and further education and research institution (Closed)
name.ng Personal names (Open)
net.ng Internet Service / Telecoms Providers' infrastructure (Closed)
org.ng Not-for-profit entities (Open)
sch.ng Other Academic institutions (Closed and at regional level)
gov.ng National, regional, and local government bodies and agencies (Closed)
mil.ng Military and related purposes (Closed)
mobi.ng For mobile devices meeting .mobi gTLD standards (Open)
6. Specific Rules for registration in the .com.ng SLD
6.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .com.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of and,
in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
6.2. SLD Charter
Domain Names registered in the .com.ng SLD are intended to be used for commercial purposes, and
the 3LD are intended to reflect and be related to these purposes. This SLD would be fully open from
July 5, 2008, before then only entities with Nigerian presence may register on this SLD.
7. Specific Rules for registration in the .org.ng SLD
7.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .org.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of and,
in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
7.2. SLD Charter
Registrants in .org.ng are intended to be not-for-profit or public service enterprises, and a 3LD within
this SLD is intended to be related to these enterprises and their activities. These may include, as nonexhaustive
examples, charities, trades unions, political parties, community groups, educational
councils, and professional institutions.
8. Specific rules for the .name.ng SLD
8.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .name.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of
and, in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
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8.2 SLD Charter
The .name.ng SLD is intended to provide a personal namespace within the .ng Top Level Domain.
Unless Rules 8.4 or 8.5 apply, registrants of .name.ng domain names must be, and remain at all
times, natural persons (a “qualifying person”), and shall not be recorded on the register as being the
agent, trustee, proxy or representative for any person or entity (whether having an individual legal
personality or not) which is not a qualifying person.
8.3
o actions unless in accordance with the Charter
Unless Rules 8.4 or 8.5 apply, no registration, transfer, renewal or change may be requested to a
.name.ng domain name which would be in breach of Rule 8.2, and any such request may be rejected.
If, despite the previous sentence, such an action is requested and does occur, NIRA may reverse that
action at any time in addition to any other rights NIRA may have by contract or otherwise.
8.4 Charter
8.4.1 Where, as the result of the DRS or judicial proceedings (of relevant jurisdiction) a .name.ng
domain name is to be transferred to a person who would not qualify under Rule 8.2 (the
“transferee”), the transfer to, and continued registration by, the transferee shall be permitted provided
that no use is made of that .name.ng domain name for any purpose, for so long as the transferee holds
the domain name.
8.4.2 To prevent a breach of Rule 8.4.1, NIRA may put the domain name into a special status e.g. by
blocking the entry of any nameservers onto the record for that domain.
8.4.3 The transferee under clause 8.4.1 will be able to transfer the domain name to a qualifying
person, in which case the specific restrictions imposed under this Rule 8.4 will cease to apply.
9. Specific rules for the .edu.ng SLDs
9.1. Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .edu.ng SLDs, administered directly by us. They form part of and,
in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
9.2 SLD Charter
The .edu.ng SLD is a closed one and reserved for ONLY tertiary academic institutions as approved
and accredited by the relevant authorities like Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), National
Board for Technical Education (NBTE), NCCE and any other body as recognized by the constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
9. 3 Rules
All registrations on the .edu.ng SLD would be at the 3LD. Various department or institutions under
the qualifying institution may then be sub domains and NOT full domains.
9.4 Requirements
9.4.1. Registrants in the .edu.ng SLD are required to be approved and accredited Degree Awarding
Tertiary Institutions. Notwithstanding the Policy, no Domain Name shall be registered in this SLD
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unless, in our reasonable opinion, the applicant is an approved/registered Degree awarding institution
and the Domain Name registered is the same as or a similar variant of the applicant's name.
9.4.2. Without prejudice to any other test that we may apply, the applicant shall only be deemed to be
an Approved/Registered School if:
9.4.2.1 the applicant is either:
1. Duly registered or incorporated under the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
9.4.2.2 AND the applicant is:
2. Has a provisional or full approval by the relevant accreditation body and government for the
provision of Degree awarding institutions. For example for a university it must have an NUC
approval.
9.4.3 Any Domain Name registered in .edu.ng may only be used in the manner set out in this Clause,
and we may suspend or cancel the registration if we believe it is not being so used, in accordance
with the termination provisions set out in our Registrant Agreement.
9.4.4 Each approved/registered tertiary institution may apply for multiple domains ONLY if it relates
to the academic institution and NOT a department or unit of the academic institution
10. Specific rules for the .net.ng SLD
10.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .net.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of and,
in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Rules.
10.2 Charter
This SLD is reserved for the computers of network providers, that is the network information centre
(NIC) and network operation centre (NOC) computers, the administrative computers, and the
network node computers.
10.3 SLD Requirements
10.3.1. Registrants in the .net.ng SLD are required to be Licensed Internet Service or Telecoms
Providers. Notwithstanding the Policy, no Domain Name shall be registered in this SLD unless, in
our reasonable opinion, the applicant is a Licensed Internet Service / Telecoms Provider and the
Domain Name registered is the same as or a similar variant of the applicant's name.
10.3.2. Without prejudice to any other test that we may apply, the applicant shall only be deemed to
be a Licensed Internet Service / Telecoms Provider if:
10.3.2.1 the applicant is either:
o a company registered with the Corporate Affairs commission of Nigeria; or
o a partnership as defined by the Partnership laws of Nigeria or
o a sole trader;
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10.3.2.2 AND the applicant is:
o Licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission for the provision of Internet and
Telecoms services
10.3.3 Any Domain Name registered in .net.ng may only be used in the manner set out in this
Clause, and we may suspend or cancel the registration if we believe it is not being so used, in
accordance with the termination provisions set out in our Registrant Agreement.
10.3.4 The Domain Name must not be used in connection with any service provided by the registrant
on behalf of any other entity. For example, the Domain Name must not be used as part of another
entity's e-mail address or URL.
11. Specific rules for the .sch.ng SLD
11.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .sch.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of and,
in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
11.2 SLD Charter
The .sch.ng SLD is a closed one and reserved for both primary and secondary schools as designated
and approved by various levels of government. Also schools accredited and approved by other
agencies like the CPN are eligible for registration under this domain.
11. 3 Rules
All registrations on the .sch.ng SLD would be ONLY at the 4LD. This is due to the large number of
schools and the similarities of the names. Also approving authorities for schools are at the local and
state government levels. With all these considered sch.ng SLD would have a qualifying 3LD based
on the listed states in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For examples Mary Don
School located in Surulere, Lagos state can register marydon.lagos.sch.ng. While Pillars school in
Zaria can register as pillars.kaduna.sch.ng
11.4 SLD Requirements
11.4.1. Registrants in the .sch.ng SLD are required to be approved Primary, Secondary or other non
degree awarding institutions. Notwithstanding the Policy, no Domain Name shall be registered in
this SLD unless, in our reasonable opinion, the applicant is an approved/registered non degree
awarding institution and the Domain Name registered is the same as or a similar variant of the
applicant's name.
11.4.2. Without prejudice to any other test that we may apply, the applicant shall only be deemed to
be an Approved/Registered School if:
11.4.2.1 the applicant is either:
3. a company registered with the Corporate Affairs commission of Nigeria; or
4. a partnership as defined by the Partnership laws of Nigeria or
5. a sole trader/registered business name;
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11.4.2.2 AND the applicant is:
6. Approved and registered by the relevant accreditation body and government for the provision
of Non Degree awarding institutions.
11.4.3 Any Domain Name registered in .sch.ng may only be used in the manner set out in this
Clause, and we may suspend or cancel the registration if we believe it is not being so used, in
accordance with the termination provisions set out in our Registrant Agreement.
11.3.4 Each approved/registered school is only allowed a single registration under the .sch.ng SLD.
12. Specific Rules for registration in the .mobi.ng SLD
12.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .mobi.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of
and, in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
12.2. SLD Charter
Domain Names registered in the .mobi.ng SLD are intended to be used for access by mobile phones,
and the 3LD are intended to reflect and be related to these purposes. Also published content on this
SLD are expected to meet the specification as released from time to time of the Mobile Top Level
domain corporation and as adopted by NIRA.
13. Specific rules for the .gov.ng SLD
13.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .gov.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of and,
in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
13.2 SLD Charter
The .gov.ng SLD is a closed and limited only to the following
• Governments at all levels and
• Ministries, Department and Parastatals at all levels as well.
13. 3 Rules
Registrations on the .gov.ng SLD would be both on the 3LD and the 4LD. Registration at the 3LD is
ONLY permitted for the following
• The Federal government
• The State government
• Federal Ministries, Departments, Parastatals and Institutions
For example justice.gov.ng, npc.gov.ng, ogunstate.gov.ng, nigeria.gov.ng, etc. For registrations on
the 4LD this is available for the following
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• State Ministries, Departments, Parastatals and Institutions
• Local governments
For example justice.lagos.gov.ng would be for the Lagos state Ministry of Justice. Also
surulere.lagos.gov.ng and surulere.oyo.gov.ng would relate to surulere local government in Lagoss
and Oyo states respectively. The 3LD to be used by the 4LD would be the state names as derived
from the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
13.4 SLD Requirements
13.4.1. Registrants in the .gov.ng SLD are required to be full government agencies and also have the
approval of each tier of government.
13.4.2. For Federal government registration, applicants are expected to also obtain clearance from
the federal government entity setup for such approval, and present same during registration. For
example NITDA.
13.4.2. For State government registration, applicants are expected to also obtain clearance from the
state government entity setup or designated for such approval, and present same during registration.
13.4.2. For Local government registration, applicants are expected to attach a valid authorization
from the local government, and present same during registration:
14. Specific Rules for registration in the .mil.ng SLD
14.1 Introduction
These are the specific rules for the .mil.ng SLD, administered directly by us. They form part of and,
in the case of conflict, take precedence over the Policy.
14.2. SLD Charter
Domain Names registered in the .mil.ng SLD are intended to be used ONL for military purposes and
as approved by the Nigerian military High command.