NIPOST Launches Digital Postcode System To Improve Deliveries, Emergency Response  

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has introduced a National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System to enable Nigerians identify the postcodes assigned to locations across the country.

The Postmaster-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying every location in Nigeria now has a postcode, which would reduce the reliance on verbal directions to find places.

“Everyone in Nigeria has a location. Now every location has a postcode. Today, on our Independence Day, NIPOST launches the National Digital Postcode System. #KnowYourPostcode,” Odeyemi said.

He said Nigerians had for years depended largely on landmarks rather than precise addresses, a situation which he noted had contributed to delays in emergency response and difficulties in locating businesses and individuals.

“The new system gives every home, shop, farm, school and office a precise, digital alphanumeric postcode, mapped and managed from our new NIPOST GIS lab.

“This is more than mail. A precise address is the foundation for e-commerce and last-mile delivery, emergency response, access to banking and credit, and better planning of public services,” Odeyemi said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the nationwide postcode system would make it easier for businesses to reach customers and for emergency responders to accurately locate people in need.

He added that the system would also support government agencies in reaching communities with essential services.

“An accurate postcode can make a meaningful difference in each of these lives,” he added.

Tijani said the system provides every addressable building in Nigeria with a unique 11-character digital postcode, offering a precise geographical reference through a Geographic Information System (GIS).

“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,” he said.

The minister urged Nigerians to obtain their postcodes by searching through the official Digital Postcode website, “postcode.gov.ng.“

According to NIPOST, the system identifies locations based on state, local government area, district, area and individual buildings, with each addressable building assigned a unique code.

The digital postcode system is expected to provide a standardised location reference for improved mail and parcel deliveries, emergency response, public service delivery and e-commerce across the country.