On Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day, the Federal Government switched on the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System. This new addressing layer assigns a unique 11-character code to every addressable building in the country.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced the launch on X on Thursday, October 1. The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) built the system, and it is live at postcode.gov.ng. An Android app is already on Google Play, with the iOS version listed as coming soon.
Tijani framed it as a basic question of national function: a country cannot work efficiently if it cannot reliably answer “where?” Where an ambulance should go. Where a business is located. Where government should send services. In his announcement, he summed it up in one line: “Every Nigerian deserves to be found.”
Wait, didn’t Nigeria already have postcodes?
Yes. And this is the part worth getting right.
NIPOST has run a six-digit numeric postcode system since the mid-1980s. Lagos Island’s code, for example, is 100001. The problem is that those codes point to a broad area, sometimes an entire district holding thousands of buildings. With street names and house numbers missing across much of the country, the old codes never helped anyone find a specific gate. For most Nigerians, the only time they come up is when an international website refuses to complete checkout without one.
So this is not Nigeria’s first postcode. It is Nigeria’s first postcode that points to your actual building. That is the real shift.
How the new code works
Every code has 11 characters and is read from left to right, narrowing down from the state to a single structure. NIPOST’s own example is FC 02 A09 DB 09:
- FC: the state (two letters for each of the 36 states and the FCT; FC is the Federal Capital Territory)
- 02: the local government area
- A09: the district
- DB: the area
- 09: the building
Yo this is actually mad Okay nice one @bosuntijani https://t.co/RtbC2Du8Nw
— Retired Polysaccharide Patriarch (@bigbrutha_) October 1, 2026
A few things to know
- The code belongs to the building, not to you.** If you move, you use the postcode of your new building. Everyone in the same building shares the same code.
- It does not replace your address. Your street address stays. The postcode is a standard digital reference you use alongside it.
- It does not replace Google Maps. You can get directions through the postcode app, but you can keep using whatever navigation app you prefer.
How to find your postcode
- Go to postcode.gov.ng/find or download the NIPOST Postcode app.
- Allow location access. The map will show the buildings around you.
- Tap your building to reveal its full code.
- Save it for home, office, or anywhere you use it often, and share it with delivery services, family or customers.
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. Today, we are launching the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System by @NipostNgn , a significant step towards a Nigeria where your location connects you to more possibilities. Think of the small business ready to deliver beyond its neighbourhood, the family waiting for emergency help and the community that government needs to reach with essential services. An accurate postcode can make a meaningful difference in each of these lives. As we work towards H.E. President @officialABAT’s ambition for a $1 trillion economy, we must build the foundations that allow more Nigerians to participate, trade and prosper. This is one of those foundations, and I am deeply excited about what we can build with it. Please find your postcode here – https://t.co/GnUieOIwWp and start using it. Share this video, encourage your family and friends to find theirs, and help us take this message into every community. I also want to hear from you: Was finding your postcode easy? Have you started sharing and using it? What would you like it to make possible for you, your business or your community? Share your experience in the comments because your feedback will help us make this work better for everyone. Let’s put our communities on the map and bring opportunity closer to every Nigerian.
— Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani (@bosuntijani) October 1, 2026
It is free for individuals to find, save and share postcodes.
If your building is not on the map, you can request a postcode through the website or app using your current location, your address, or a Google Maps link. NIPOST reviews the request and assigns a code. If the information on your building is wrong, you can suggest an edit in the app. A USSD channel is also meant to serve Nigerians without smartphones or data.
