The Postmaster-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Mrs Tola Odeyemi, said the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System will improve Nigerians’ access to digital services nationwide.
Odeyemi said on Friday that the system would give buildings across Nigeria unique geospatial identities, making it easier to locate homes, businesses and public institutions.
She commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, for supporting the project, adding that it marked a shift in NIPOST’s operations towards digital services.
According to her, the absence of reliable location information has created difficulties for courier companies, emergency responders and financial institutions trying to identify addresses.
“For far too long, millions of Nigerians have lived and worked at locations that cannot be found on any reliable map. A courier cannot find them. An ambulance struggles to reach them. A bank cannot verify where they live,” she said.
Odeyemi said the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System was designed to address the problem by assigning a unique geospatial identity to every addressable building in the country.
She said the system covered homes, shops, farms, schools and offices, with each postcode providing information about the state, local government area, district and area where the property is located.
Odeyemi made the remarks on the occasion of marking the 2026 World Post Day with the theme: One Postal Network, Infinity Possibilities.”
She explained that the postcode system, backed by mapping and managed by NIPOST GIS Lab, would improve digital services, especially in logistics, e-commerce, and financial inclusion.
Odeyemi said the Postal system has moved from letters and stamps to global digital services that would make its operations seamless for millions of Nigerians and improve the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Speaking further on the alphanumeric Postcode system, Odeyemi said, “The system is backed by mapping and managed by our new NIPOST GIS Lab. It is the foundation on which we can build efficient postal and logistics, emergency response, access to credit, and sound public planning.
“Our small businesses, artisans, farmers and online traders need a delivery partner they can afford and depend on. That is the NIPOST we are building.
“We are strengthening our logistics operations, investing in technology and working with partners so that a product made in Aba can reach a buyer in Sokoto quickly and safely.
“We are also turning our post offices into service centres where Nigerians can access logistics, government services, digital tools and financial services close to where they live.”
She used the occasion to announce the winners of the 2026 Essay Writing competition for secondary schools across the country, saying over 3000 students participated.
“The overall National Winner is Olusanwo Precious Oluwasemilore of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State. Joint second place goes to Diyal Fatima Satzen Sulaiman of St. Louis College, Jos, and Muhammad Zainab of St. Louis Secondary School, Kano. Joint third place goes to Kwapten Nitninaan Pamela of St. Louis College, Jos, and Oyelami Oluwanifemi Diamond of Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo City, Ondo State”, Odeyemi said.