Tijani disclosed this at the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System Workshop held in collaboration with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

The workshop, themed “Operationalising the Nigerian Digital Postcode for National Security and Public Safety,” brought together representatives of security agencies, emergency response institutions, government ministries and development partners to discuss the implementation of the new system.

According to the minister, the initiative will assign a unique digital code to every building in Nigeria, including properties located in rural communities.

“The first set of locations, areas and states will be released in October this year, and I am pushing them hard to ensure that we cover a significant number of states before the end of the year,” Tijani said.

He described the project as a critical component of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure, noting that reliable location data is increasingly essential for economic growth and digital transformation.

The minister said the digital postcode system would improve emergency response, enhance public safety, support logistics operations, facilitate e-commerce activities and strengthen government service delivery.

“The future we are building is one where every incident, every facility, every operation and every response in Nigeria is anchored on a single, trusted location layer. When that happens, coordination becomes instantaneous, accountability becomes traceable and response becomes precise,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, NIPOST Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, Tola Odeyemi, said the absence of accurate and consistent addressing systems has long hindered investigations, emergency response efforts and service delivery across the country.

She explained that the new Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System would provide trusted location intelligence by assigning every location in Nigeria a unique GIS-enabled code that can be identified and verified across institutions.

“The Digital Postcode provides trusted location intelligence, the critical layer that allows people, assets, services and institutions to be accurately located and connected,” Odeyemi said.

She added that the success of the initiative would depend largely on widespread adoption by public institutions and private sector stakeholders.

The development follows the approval by the Federal Executive Council in March 2026 for the implementation of the digital postcode system.

Nigeria currently operates a traditional six-digit postal code system used primarily for mail sorting and delivery. However, many areas across the country lack clearly defined street names, house numbers and verifiable location data, creating challenges for logistics providers, emergency services and digital platforms.

The new GIS-enabled system is expected to address these limitations by assigning precise digital locations to individual properties, supporting more efficient mail delivery, logistics operations, ride-hailing services and other location-based digital services.

As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand, government officials say the availability of accurate geospatial data will become increasingly important for economic planning, public safety and technology-driven innovation.

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The findings were presented during a roundtable on the Safety and Protection of Children Online organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission in Lagos.

The survey comes amid government plans to introduce age-based restrictions on social media use in Nigeria. However, authorities said any regulatory framework would be shaped through nationwide consultations with citizens and stakeholders.

According to the survey, 64.8 per cent of respondents supported direct regulation of children’s social media use, while another 18.6 per cent favoured restrictions but preferred a different minimum age threshold.

Among respondents who opposed regulation, 51 per cent argued that digital literacy and education would be more effective than restrictions, while 40 per cent preferred parental control tools as the primary means of protecting children online.

On the appropriate minimum age for social media access, 36.8 per cent of respondents supported a threshold of 16 years, similar to measures recently adopted in Australia. Another 27.7 per cent favoured a minimum age of 17 years, while 13 per cent supported the current industry standard of 13 years.

The survey also highlighted widespread concern about children’s online safety, with 93.5 per cent of respondents expressing high or extreme concern over the risks faced by minors on social media platforms.

Government officials said the findings would help shape future policy discussions as Nigeria explores measures to strengthen child protection in digital spaces.

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The 2025 edition of the TIME100 AI list, released on Thursday, recognizes global leaders, innovators, and thinkers shaping the development and future of artificial intelligence. Tijani appears on the list alongside prominent figures such as Elon Musk, CEO of xAI; Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta; Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare; and Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon.

Reacting to the announcement in a post on X, Tijani described the recognition as a testament to Nigeria’s growing role in the global AI ecosystem.

“This acknowledgment represents the collective efforts of those who believe in AI’s ability to drive progress,” he wrote.

Since assuming office, Tijani has positioned AI as a central pillar of Nigeria’s digital economy strategy, advocating for policies that integrate AI into education, governance, healthcare, and financial services. His inclusion on the list marks the first time a Nigerian minister has been recognized for influence in global artificial intelligence development.

The recognition underscores the increasing visibility of Nigeria’s tech sector on the world stage and highlights the country’s ambition to play a central role in shaping the future of digital innovation.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a high-level Presidential Committee on the Implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging technology for national development. The committee is tasked with ensuring a robust, coordinated, and legally compliant implementation of DPI, aligning with Nigeria’s overarching development goals.

This is disclosed in a statement by Mr. Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations at the Office of the secretary to the Government of the Federation.

President Tinubu will chair the committee, which comprises key government officials responsible for various aspects of the nation’s digital and economic landscape. Members include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Head of Civil Service of The Federation, Attorney General of The Federation and Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Minister of Interior, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Speaking at the inauguration, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, represented by the Honourable Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized the transformative potential of DPI for Nigeria’s digital economy.

“DPI is the key to unlocking new avenues for growth, creating jobs, improving public service delivery, and empowering our citizens,” Akume stated. He stressed the necessity of a well-coordinated and robust governance structure to drive its implementation.

Senator Akume charged the committee to provide strategic direction and seamless integration of the three core pillars of DPI: Digital Identity, Financial Payments, and Data Exchange. This integration is expected to foster innovation and facilitate evidence-based decision-making in governance.

Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), reiterated NIMC’s crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for Nigerian citizens through DPI.

“We acknowledge our full responsibilities to contribute meaningfully to advance economic growth, enhance citizen engagement, and improve overall quality of life through DPI,” Coker-Odusote affirmed, pledging NIMC’s full support and cooperation to ensure successful implementation.

Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), highlighted the critical importance of unifying government databases. This unification, he noted, will facilitate seamless data exchange and enhance the overall “life event experience” for Nigerian citizens.

Also present, Mr. Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), underscored the need for collaborative efforts in identity management and financial payments. He mentioned NIBSS’s ongoing work with NIMC to verify National Identity Numbers (NINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), linking databases for more efficient and secure financial transactions.

The establishment of this committee signifies a major step forward in Nigeria’s digital agenda, aiming to create a cohesive and efficient digital ecosystem that benefits all citizens.

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TECH DIGEST- Nigeria is making a bold move to amplify its presence in the global tech arena. The country’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at catapulting Nigeria’s tech industry onto the world stage.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has sanctioned the conversion of a government-owned property in San Francisco, USA, into the Nigerian Digital Technology Exchange Programme Hub, also known as the Nigeria Startup House. This strategic endeavour is poised to serve as a critical platform for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), leveraging the proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area’s dense concentration of international organizations and venture capital firms.

In 2023, Nigerian tech startups secured a significant portion of their $1.3 billion funding from venture capitalists based in the Bay Area. The new hub is designed to capitalize on this trend, enhancing the visibility of Nigeria’s burgeoning startup ecosystem and making it more appealing to global investors and collaborators.

By establishing a foothold in Silicon Valley, a region with a GDP exceeding $929 billion and home to over 200 of the world’s leading companies, Nigeria aims to stimulate substantial economic growth and innovation. The Nigeria Startup House will not only increase the exposure of Nigerian startups but also foster critical connections and collaborations with international tech players, driving the nation’s growth within the global technology landscape.

The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), will retain ownership of the San Francisco property. However, its operations will be managed by a consortium of Nigerian tech companies, utilizing non-public funding to ensure efficient and effective management.

This initiative underscores Nigeria’s commitment to fostering an interconnected tech industry, ultimately promoting the country’s economic interests on a global scale.

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TECHDIGEST- Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that the Nigerian Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has improved 4G coverage across the country from 23% to 77.52%.

He disclosed this on Tuesday during the 3rd Ministerial Performance Review Retreat in Abuja while speaking on the improvements made in the digital economy.

According to him, Nigeria’s broadband coverage has improved from 33.7% to 44.65% in the past 2 years alone.

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He listed what he said are the biggest contribution of the digital economy to Nigeria’s economic growth, including the deployment of 5G technology and the exponential growth of the following Nigerian tech unicorns: Flutterwave, O-Pay, Andela, Interswitch, Jumia, Piggyvest, and Paystack.

Prof. Osinbajo emphasised that the digital economy is one of the major achievements of the administration, noting that the rapid expansion of broadband access has been a game changer.

“In August 2019, the broadband coverage was 33.7% and today it is 44.65%, representing close to 13 million new broadband users. There were 13,823 4G base stations and we now have 36,751, representing a 165.86% increase.

“The percentage of 4G coverage across the country also increased from 23% to 77.52%. The expansion has also been helped by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy directly engaging the.”

He then spoke about Nigeria’s 5G ambition, pointing out the benefits of the fifth-generation network and how it will contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

“We now have Presidential approval for the 5G policy. In terms of density, 4G allows connection to about 1 million devices in 500 square kilometres, while 5G will allow the same number of devices in just 1 square kilometre. There are also very fast data rates of the 5G and more efficient energy usage.”

The Vice President went on to assert that the cost of data has crashed from N1,200 per GB in 2019 to about N360 today, thus making it easier for Nigerians to connect to the Internet.

“Now the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has embarked on the National Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone II, (NICTIB II) to connect 20 States with fibre optics that had not been connected in NICTIB I”.

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