The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the implementation of a GIS-enabled Alphanumeric Digital Postcode System for Nigeria, a move aimed at modernising the country’s addressing infrastructure and strengthening its digital economy.
The approval, granted at a council meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will introduce a geospatially intelligent addressing framework designed to improve accuracy in mail and parcel delivery across the country and enhance service delivery across multiple sectors.
The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), led by the Postmaster-General and Chief Executive Officer, Tola Odeyemi.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said the system forms part of the ministry’s strategic blueprint to build the foundational infrastructure required for a modern digital economy.
According to him, the digital postcode system will enable faster and more reliable mail and parcel processing while strengthening national systems that support logistics, e-commerce and public service delivery.
He added that the new addressing platform will also serve as a national enabler for improved emergency response, better national planning and more efficient delivery of government services across the country.
Commenting on the development, Odeyemi described the council’s approval as a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its digital backbone.
She noted that although the initiative was first conceptualised in 2009, its approval in 2026 represents a significant step forward in the country’s digital transformation agenda under President Tinubu and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
According to the NIPOST chief, the digital postcode system goes far beyond postal reform.
“It is critical national infrastructure that enables e-commerce, logistics, emergency services, financial inclusion, security, urban planning and effective public service delivery,” she said.
Nigeria currently operates a traditional six-digit numeric postcode system administered by NIPOST for sorting and delivering mail.
The new system will introduce an alphanumeric addressing framework linked to geographic information systems (GIS), enabling more precise identification of locations across cities, towns and rural communities.
Officials say the new addressing framework will significantly improve how goods, services and digital platforms reach Nigerians nationwide.
The Federal Government noted that the approval represents another step in its efforts to build the infrastructure required to connect people, businesses and public services more efficiently as Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand.
