The Nigerian Postal Service has launched the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System designed to help Nigerians find the postcodes of locations across the country.
Postmaster-General/CEO of NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, said in a statement on Thursday that every location in Nigeria now has a postcode, reducing the need to seek directions to any location in Nigeria.
“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,” Mr Odeyemi said.
He stated that for years, Nigerians have relied on landmarks rather than addresses, resulting in delays in emergency response and difficulties locating businesses and people.
“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,” Mr Odeyemi said.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani said in a post on X that assigning postcodes to all locations would help businesses reach customers, provide accurate locations during emergencies, and help government agencies reach communities with essential services.
“An accurate postcode can make a meaningful difference in each of these lives,” he added.
Mr Tijani said the system assigns a unique 11-character digital postcode to every addressable building in Nigeria and is designed to provide a precise, GIS-enabled reference for identifying locations.
“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.
He urged Nigerians to search for their postcodes through the official Digital Postcode website, “postcode.gov.ng“.
The system is designed to identify locations by state, local government area, district, area, and building, with each addressable building receiving a unique code.
The digital postcode will provide a standard reference for locations, helping improve deliveries, emergency responses, public service delivery, and e-commerce.