By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Nigeria is set to introduce
a new national postcode system from October 1, 2026, as the Federal Government
advances efforts to strengthen the country’s National Addressing System.
The development was
announced at a National Addressing System meeting chaired by Vice President
Kashim Shettima, where the Association of Telecommunications Companies of
Nigeria (ATCON) was represented by its Executive Secretary, Ajibola Olude, on
behalf of the ATCON President.
The meeting brought together
key government officials and private-sector stakeholders to discuss the
implementation of the National Addressing System, which is now under the
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
Participants included the
Ministers of Interior and Science and Technology, as well as the chief
executives of NITDA and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The
Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the
National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the
Director-General of the Nigeria Governors' Forum and private-sector
representatives from PalmPay and OPay also attended.
Under the new implementation
framework, NIMC, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and
the Nigeria Postal Service are expected to play key roles in driving the
National Addressing System.
The Nigeria Post Office is
expected to issue the new postcode beginning October 1, 2026, marking a significant
step in the rollout of the national addressing framework.
ATCON said it is
representing the private sector in the initiative, highlighting the
telecommunications industry's role in supporting the development of a more
effective national addressing infrastructure.
The National Addressing
System is expected to provide an important foundation for digital services,
identity management, financial services, logistics and other activities that
depend on accurate and reliable location information.