The Nigerian Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), has concluded plans to launch the Digital Postcode system in June this year, as announced by Postmaster General of the Federation, Mr Adeyemi Adepoju.
Adepoju disclosed this recently at the end of a 2-day workshop/ retreat on the Digital Postcode System held in Keffi, Nasarawa state.
The event was in collaboration with the National Population Commission, NPC, National Space Research & Development Agency, Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation and other partners.
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The advantages of the digital postcode
According to Adepoju, the digital postcode will benefit the Nigerian economy and lessen insecurity.
He explained that digitizing the postcode system will reduce banditry, abduction, and internet frauds by improving security organizations’ responsiveness to situations by ensuring that information reaches them on time.
While improving mail delivery, the digital postcode will also provide an effective health care delivery system, adequate revenue and tax collections, and utility bill distribution, adding that implementing Digital postcodes would also improve the seamless issuance of driver’s licences, National Identity Management numbers, international passports, banking services, and other address verification services.
“The programme will create a mark in Nigerian history with the drive and dedication of NIPOST and the technical partners in fast-tracking and actualizing.”
“We set up entities to ensure every area of the country is adequately captured, utilising a methodical framework of alpha-numeric characters from State, Local Government Areas, Postcode Districts, Postcode Areas, and Postcode Units,” he explained.
How the digital postcode will work
According to information from NIPOST, the digital postcode system will use a systematic framework of alpha-numeric characters from State, Local Government Areas, Postcode Districts, Postcode Areas and Postcode Units to ensure that every part of the country is effectively captured.
The technical partners involved in the project are expected to work closely with NIPOST to fast-track and actualise the program.
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NIPOST, NPC sign MoU on roll out of digital postcode
It is recalled that in 2022, The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) and the National Population Commission (NPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the roll-out of a digitized Postcode for Nigeria.
The then Postmaster General of NIPOST, Dr. Ismail Adewusi, said the collaboration with NPC would open a new channel towards improving the address system in the country and ensure all Nigerians are captured.
“Whereas NIPOST introduced a Postcode system in 1986 as part of efforts to enhance mail collection, processing, distribution and delivery, the present effort is aimed at transitioning the system to a digital platform to create more efficiency and functionality,” he said.
“Of a certainty, such an advanced addressing system will promote the proper functioning of not just the Postal sector. It is a critical infrastructure for meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, disease control and provision of basic services such as water and electricity.
“It remains a critical national infrastructure, especially in a developing country like ours where lack of street names and property numbering hinder the ability to meet public and business expectations. We are not unaware of the difficulties which service providers in Nigeria face, due to the lack of an efficient addressing system in the country.” He added.
He further explained that the relentless drive to use new technologies and latest digital solutions, to manage operations more efficiently, at less cost, increased productivity, and better quality of service, is a major challenge for managers, especially in a large and complex networked industry that delivers a wide range of products and services.
The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra also expressed that the Commission is delighted to share its data as primary data for the creation of the postcode area, postcode districts and other entities to design a digitalised postcode framework to facilitate the sorting and transmission of mails delivery and improve national addressing standard.