The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the implementation of a GIS-enabled alphanumeric digital postcode system aimed at modernising Nigeria’s national addressing framework.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Tuesday. He said the approval was granted under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to deliver on the ministry’s strategic blueprint.
According to Tijani, the new system will be developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), working closely with the Postmaster General, Tola Odeyemi, and her team.
He explained that Nigeria will introduce a geospatially intelligent addressing system designed to improve location accuracy nationwide and enable faster, more reliable mail and parcel processing.
“Beyond strengthening postal operations, the Digital Postcode System will also serve as an important national enabler supporting better national planning, improved emergency response, more efficient logistics and e-commerce, and the delivery of government services,” the minister stated.
Tijani noted that foundational infrastructure such as a digital addressing framework is essential as Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand, helping connect citizens, businesses and public institutions more efficiently across the country. He described the approval as another step toward building an enabling environment for a modern, inclusive and globally competitive digital economy.
Background
Nigeria currently operates a standard numeric postal code system, such as 100001 for Lagos Island, where each region, district and delivery area is identified by a six-digit code primarily used for sorting and routing mail. The system, managed by NIPOST, has been in place for decades.
However, the framework has faced limitations. Many areas still lack clearly defined street names or house numbers, and a significant number of addresses cannot be reliably located on digital maps. This has created challenges for efficient mail delivery and logistics, particularly in informal settlements and rapidly expanding urban centres.
The proposed GIS-enabled alphanumeric system is expected to assign precise digital locations to properties, improving mail delivery, logistics operations and supporting digital services such as e-commerce and ride-hailing platforms that depend on accurate geospatial data.
