FG Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Nigerian Buildings

The federal government has launched a National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System designed to improve location identification, service delivery and access to opportunities across Nigeria.

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, announced the launch by the Nigerian Postal Service on Thursday.

The system assigns an 11-character digital postcode to addressable buildings across the country, providing a more precise way of identifying locations.

Tijani said the system would enable small businesses to reach customers beyond their immediate neighbourhoods while helping emergency responders and government agencies locate communities and deliver essential services more efficiently.

“Every Nigerian deserves to be found. Every business deserves the chance to reach its customers. And every community deserves to be within reach of opportunity,” the minister said.

He said an accurate postcode could help businesses with deliveries, families seeking emergency assistance and government agencies delivering services to communities.

Tijani explained that the new system differs from the existing postcode structure, which generally identifies broader geographical areas, as it provides a unique digital reference for individual buildings.

According to him, the 11-character postcode is Geographic Information System-enabled and narrows a location from the state or Federal Capital Territory to the local government area, district, area and individual building.

He said the initiative was part of efforts to establish the infrastructure required to support President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion.

“As we work towards President Bola Tinubu’s ambition for a $1 trillion economy, we must build the foundations that allow more Nigerians to participate, trade and prosper,” Tijani said.

“This is one of those foundations, and I am deeply excited about what we can build with it.”

The minister said Nigerians could find their postcodes through the official postcode platform and encouraged them to begin using and sharing the codes.

He clarified that the postcode identifies a building, rather than an individual, and can be used alongside an existing street address.

“It can also be shared with customers, delivery services, visitors and others who need to locate a building,” Tijani said.

He also urged Nigerians to provide feedback on how easy it was to find their postcodes and suggest ways the system could be improved for individuals, businesses and communities.