Ekiti State has been selected as a pioneer pilot state for Nigeria's Digital Alphanumeric Postcode Project, a system designed to replace the country's non-functional postcode infrastructure. Governor Biodun Oyebanji made the announcement during a two-day stakeholder engagement and inception workshop on the macro ground-truthing of the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode and Statewide Enterprise Addressing Management System, held in Ado Ekiti on Monday. The workshop, organised by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) and the Ekiti State Geospatial Data Centre, brought together traditional rulers, local government representatives, government ministries and agencies, technical partners and community representatives.
The governor said the existing postcode system had created significant problems across Nigeria. Under the current arrangement, businesses cannot effectively target customers or optimise logistics; government cannot map poverty, plan infrastructure, or deliver services efficiently; and residents cannot receive mail, access e-commerce, or prove their address for formal purposes. The new Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System, which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council, creates a unique, machine-readable and human-usable code for every street, building and settlement, down to the Basic Spatial Unit of approximately 15 to 20 addresses.
Oyebanji highlighted the potential benefits the system would bring to Ekiti. These include improved emergency response and public safety, better tax administration and revenue generation, improved urban and regional planning, and geomarketing that could drive private sector growth. The system could also help identify underserved communities, target welfare programmes more accurately, and measure progress on social protection and poverty mapping. In electoral matters, accurate addresses would enable accurate voter registration, efficient polling unit logistics and improved electoral integrity. The governor said the postcode system would unlock innovation and position Ekiti as a digital economy hub in Nigeria.
Tola Odeyemi, Postmaster-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NIPOST, described the initiative as a significant milestone in Nigeria's digital transformation. She said Ekiti was selected as a pioneer state because of its reputation for educational advancement, intellectual development and progressive governance. Odeyemi identified improved security, emergency response, e-commerce, logistics, revenue administration and financial inclusion as some of the initiative's expected benefits. She urged federal, state and local government stakeholders, traditional rulers, private sector operators and technology innovators to support the validation of address data to ensure that no building or resident was excluded.
The Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Bureau of Lands, Kayode Ojo, said collaboration between the state and NIPOST began in December 2025, when the Ekiti State Geospatial Data Centre expressed interest in partnering with the postal service. The two-day workshop was expected to present the project's roadmap, methodology, timeline and expected outcomes while validating the pilot scope and clarifying stakeholders' responsibilities. Expected outputs from the workshop include a draft Memorandum of Understanding, work plan and budget, communication protocol, field checklist, operational workflow and escalation procedures. The workshop was also designed to help participants understand local challenges and establish immediate priorities ahead of field operations.