Manny Ita –
The Federal Executive Council 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, noting that the approval was granted under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to implement the ministry’s strategic blueprint for the country’s digital transformation.
Mr Tijani explained that the new system will be developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Postal Service, working closely with the Postmaster General, Tola Odeyemi, and her team.
He said the initiative will introduce a modern, geospatially intelligent addressing system designed to improve nationwide accuracy and enable faster and more reliable mail and parcel processing. According to him, the initiative will also strengthen several sectors beyond postal services.
“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 said.
Mr Tijani added that foundational infrastructure such as a digital addressing framework is essential as Nigeria’s digital economy expands, noting that it will help connect people, businesses and public services more efficiently across the country. He described the council’s approval as another step toward creating an enabling environment for a modern, inclusive and globally competitive digital economy.
Nigeria has long operated 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 mainly used for sorting and routing mail. The system, managed by the Nigerian Postal Service, has existed for decades to support basic mail delivery nationwide.
However, the system has faced several limitations, with many locations lacking clearly defined street names or house numbers and many addresses unable to be accurately mapped. These challenges have affected efficient mail delivery and logistics, particularly in informal settlements and rapidly expanding urban areas.
The new GIS-enabled alphanumeric code is expected to address these gaps by assigning each property a precise digital location, thereby improving mail delivery and logistics while supporting digital services such as e-commerce and ride-hailing that depend on accurate geospatial data.
The development comes as the Nigerian Postal Service continues efforts to transform into a more digital and revenue-driven institution. The agency recently initiated plans to provide financial services nationwide after reviving its International Money Transfer Operator and Super Agent licences, which had been inactive for nearly eight years.
As part of its modernisation drive, the postal service has also partnered with private sector platforms to introduce digital payment solutions for inbound parcels, integrating customs payments, real-time tracking and door-to-door delivery to address longstanding inefficiencies in cross-border e-commerce services.
