Insecurity: Nigeria to begin digital postcode rollout in October -Minister

• Every building to have unique digital address

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has said that the country will commence the rollout of its National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System (NDAPS) in October this year

Tijani disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ engagement on the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System with the theme, “Operationalising the Nigerian Digital Alphanumeric Postcode for National Security and Public Safety.”

According to the minister, the initiative will provide every building in the country, including those in rural communities, with a unique digital address, significantly improving service delivery, security operations and economic activities.

“Alphanumeric postcode means that every single building will have a unique code. Even those in rural areas will now have a unique code, the same way you have everywhere in the world,” he said.

He explained that the first set of locations and states would be released in October, adding that the government was working to ensure that a significant number of states are covered before the end of the year.

Describing the project as a major legacy initiative of the President Bola Tinubu administration, Tijani said it enjoys strong government backing and budgetary support.

“This is a significant legacy for this administration. It’s something that the President has backed us on. It’s supported with budgets that we should actually execute on, and we want to make sure that we deliver it for Nigerians,” he said.

The minister noted that the digital postcode system would transform commerce and logistics across the country by making it easier to locate addresses and deliver goods and services.

He said the current challenges associated with deliveries ordered through online platforms would be greatly reduced once the system becomes operational.

“We are going from premium standard in addressing. This is going to be one of the best on the African continent,” Tijani added.

Earlier, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said the initiative would strengthen national security and public safety by enhancing the ability of security agencies to accurately identify and locate people, places and incidents.

Represented by the Head of the National Centre for Counter Terrorism (NCCT), Gen. Adamu Kaka, Ribadu said security agencies must continually embrace innovative technologies to improve operational effectiveness.

“The challenges confronting our nation today require security agencies to continuously adapt and embrace innovative tools that enhance operational effectiveness,” he said.

According to him, the digital postcode system will support intelligence gathering, emergency response, disaster management, border security, financial crime investigations and law enforcement operations.

“National security today is increasingly linked to our ability to harness technology, data and innovation in support of governance and public safety objectives,” he said.

Also speaking, the Postmaster General of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Mrs. Tola Odeyemi, said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s objective of ensuring that every Nigerian can be digitally identified and located.

She explained that while the National Identity Number (NIN) helps government identify citizens, the new digital postcode system will help determine where they are located, enabling more effective planning and service delivery.

According to Odeyemi, poor addressing systems currently contribute to delivery inefficiencies that cost the country between N50 billion and N80 billion annually through failed and misdirected deliveries.

She said Nigerians would be able to access the new system through online portals, mobile applications and USSD channels once it is fully deployed.

Odeyemi expressed optimism that the NDAPS would improve governance, boost economic activities, enhance public safety and position Nigeria among leading countries leveraging digital addressing infrastructure for national development.