Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s new digital postcode initiative will strengthen innovation, improve service delivery and position the state as a leading digital economy hub.
Oyebanji made the remarks during a two-day stakeholder engagement and inception workshop on the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode Project and the Statewide Enterprise Addressing Management System in Ado-Ekiti.
The governor, represented by the project’s focal person, Olusanmi Akintobi, commended the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) for selecting Ekiti as one of the pioneer states for the initiative.
He explained that the existing postcode system had limitations that affected businesses, emergency response, infrastructure planning and the efficient delivery of public services.
According to him, the new digital system will assign unique, machine-readable and human-readable codes to streets, buildings and settlements, making it easier to identify locations accurately.
Oyebanji said the initiative would support his administration’s digital economy and land administration reforms, adding that the state had provided institutional backing and invested in its geospatial data infrastructure to facilitate implementation.
He highlighted several expected benefits, including improved emergency response, more effective tax administration, increased revenue generation, better urban planning and stronger business growth.
The governor also noted that accurate digital addresses could help authorities identify underserved communities, improve the targeting of social welfare programmes and strengthen electoral logistics.
He added that the system could create opportunities for technology-driven businesses, including e-commerce, ride-hailing, financial technology and health technology services.
Earlier, NIPOST Postmaster-General and Chief Executive Officer, Tola Odeyemi, described the initiative as an important step in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Odeyemi, represented by Abdulwakil Jamiu, said Ekiti was selected as a pioneer state because of its educational development, intellectual capacity and progressive governance.
She urged government agencies, traditional institutions, private businesses and technology stakeholders to participate in validating address data to ensure that communities and residents were not excluded.
The project is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s digital addressing infrastructure and improve how government agencies, businesses and individuals identify and access locations.
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