Six ways Nigerians can check home postcodes under NIPOST’s new digital address system

Nigerians can now check their home addresses and obtain digital postcodes under the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System, launched nationwide by NIPOST on October 1, 2026. The system assigns an 11-character alphanumeric code to each addressable building.

The platform lets users search by street address, place name, postcode or alias. It is meant to help residents identify, save and share precise building locations. The code identifies a building, not a resident or occupant.

Six ways to find and confirm your code

Visit postcode.gov.ng and select the Find my postcode option. Users can also download the NIPOST Postcode application through the official website. The Android version is available on Google Play, while the website lists the iOS version as coming soon.

Enter your house number, street name, neighbourhood or another relevant location detail in the search field. You can also search using a place name, postcode or alias where available. Select the result that matches your address and inspect the accompanying map. Check nearby roads, neighbouring buildings and familiar landmarks to confirm the result points to your actual property before saving or sharing the code.

If you are at home or nearby, enable your phone’s location service and grant the application permission to access your location. Select Find My Postcode to display your position and nearby mapped buildings. Identify your exact property on the map and select it to retrieve the assigned code. Because neighbouring buildings may have different postcodes, confirm that you have selected the correct property.

Names, corrections and missing codes

Some address records include homeowners’ names because residents commonly use them to identify properties, especially in areas without clearly defined street names or house numbers. NIPOST Postmaster-General Tola Odeyemi explained that officials collected both standard and informal building addresses during field data gathering. To check whether your name appears, inspect the address description associated with your building. You can also search for your name if it is commonly used to identify the property. Your name may not appear even if your building is listed.

If your building’s details are incorrect, use the platform’s correction feature to suggest an update. Where a building has no assigned postcode, users can request one through the website or application by providing relevant address and location details. A Google Maps link can also help identify the property. NIPOST reviews requests for missing codes and proposed corrections before updating its records.

What it means for addresses and services

People living in the same building can share its postcode alongside their regular address. Anyone moving to another building will need to use the code assigned to the new location. The system is intended to improve address identification and support deliveries, logistics, emergency response and public service delivery. Finding, saving and sharing a digital postcode is free.

Nigeria’s search for hard-to-find homes and businesses could become easier through technology built by Milsat, a Nigerian geospatial technology firm founded by Taslim Saluadeen and Adedamola Baderinwa. Milsat built the technology behind the initiative. For businesses, clearer building codes could reduce delivery errors and support logistics, though residents must confirm that the mapped building matches their intended address before using or sharing the code.