Nigeria to Launch National Digital Address System in October
June 18th 2026
- Nigeria will launch the first phase of its National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System in October 2026 before expanding coverage nationwide.
- The system will assign every building a unique digital address linked to precise geographic coordinates and accessible through digital platforms, mobile applications and USSD channels.
- Authorities expect the project to strengthen logistics, e-commerce, emergency response, security operations and public service delivery.
Nigeria plans to launch the first phase of its national digital address system in October, introducing a new infrastructure that authorities view as a key enabler of the country’s digital economy, logistics sector and public services. The government will reveal the first areas covered by the system in October before extending the platform gradually across the country.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani announced the rollout on Tuesday, June 16, during a workshop dedicated to the operational implementation of the project. The initiative, known as the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System, will assign every building in Nigeria a unique digital address that computer systems can read and connect to precise geographic coordinates.
The project received approval from the Federal Executive Council under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 4, 2026. The initiative builds on earlier efforts, including geospatial data collected during the national census and two previous projects led by the Nigerian Postal Service.
NIPOST launched an address verification system in 2018 and subsequently partnered with Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator in 2020 to improve address accuracy for SIM card holders. However, authorities did not fully implement either initiative. NIPOST had also promised to launch a comparable system in 2023, but the project did not move forward at that time.
The government expects the system to address persistent location challenges across many parts of the country, where citizens still rely heavily on landmarks and verbal directions instead of standardized addresses.
Citizens will access their digital codes through online platforms, mobile applications and USSD channels. For the logistics sector, NIPOST plans to deploy an artificial intelligence-assisted routing system that will allow companies to calculate actual delivery costs and transit times rather than relying on estimates. However, authorities have not yet disclosed the detailed procedures citizens will use to obtain their digital address codes.
“The postcode system will assign every location in the country a unique, machine-readable and geographically anchored digital address. Beyond improving mail delivery, this system will strengthen emergency response, national security operations, enhance address verification, support more efficient logistics and e-commerce, and enable more effective public service delivery,” Tijani said.
The digital addressing project forms part of Nigeria’s wider effort to modernize digital infrastructure and strengthen the foundations of the digital economy. Tijani positioned the initiative alongside several flagship government programs, including Project BRIDGE, which aims to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic infrastructure across the country. He also linked the project to NUCAP, a program designed to expand telecommunications coverage through the deployment of 3,700 new telecom towers.
In addition, the government continues to advance initiatives focused on artificial intelligence, data exchange infrastructure and broader digital transformation. Together, these projects aim to improve connectivity, strengthen digital public infrastructure and support economic growth across Africa’s largest economy.
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