SPOTTED: NIPOST digital postcode website exposes names of homeowners

The federal government has launched the national digital alphanumeric postcode system aimed at improving location identification, service delivery and access to opportunities across Nigeria.

The system, launched on Thursday by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), assigns an 11-character digital postcode to addressable buildings across the country.

In March, the federal executive council (FEC) approvedthe national digital addressing policy and digital postcode system in March 2026 as part of Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure.

In June, the federal government began engagements with security agencies, emergency response institutions and other stakeholders on the system, with officials highlighting its potential applications in national security, public safety and service delivery.

Speaking during the launch, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, said the system would help small businesses reach customers beyond their immediate locations.

Tijani noted that the system would make it easier for emergency responders and public agencies to locate communities and deliver essential services.

“Every Nigerian deserves to be found. Every business deserves the chance to reach its customers. And every community deserves to be within reach of opportunity,” the minister said.

“Think of the small business ready to deliver beyond its neighbourhood, the family waiting for emergency help and the community that the government needs to reach with essential services.

“An accurate postcode can make a meaningful difference in each of these lives.”

The minister said the 11-character code is GIS-enabled and narrows a location from the state or Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the LGA, district, area and building.

NAMES OF HOMEOWNERS EXPOSED

On Friday, TheCable accessed the application after completing its registration and verification process.

The application allows users to search for locations using places, postcodes and aliases, and provides a digital reference for individual buildings.

Unlike the existing postcode system, which generally identifies broader geographic areas, the new system assigns specific codes to individual buildings.

TheCable found that searches using the building postcodes returned details linked to specific properties.

The application also displayed the names and personal information of homeowners, as well as the functions of the buildings.

It also enables users to search the specific address of homeowner using their names. (TheCable)