Abuja: The Federal Government has announced plans to implement the Proof of Address (POA) system across all 774 Local Government Areas in the country as part of its strategy to tackle insecurity and enhance service delivery. This was revealed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, during a Stakeholders' Sensitisation Meeting for the North-West, North-East, and North-Central Geopolitical Zones in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was organized by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in partnership with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to advance President Bola Tinubu's agenda of addressing key national challenges. Akume, represented by Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Permanent Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs, stated that this meeting marked the beginning of nationwide POA sensitization, commencing with the Northern Geopolitical zones.
Akume highlighted that earlier meetings with stakeholders in Abuja resulted in significant resolutions and a communiqu© distributed to all states. He explained that the POA initiative aims to provide every resident with a verifiable and secure address, which will be integrated into administrative processes across both public and private sectors. The initiative is expected to boost national security, improve planning and service delivery, and promote a more organized society.
ALGON President Mr. Bello Lawal emphasized the importance of the meeting, calling it timely and crucial for grassroots governance, national security, and socio-economic development. He pointed out the pivotal role of local government systems in street naming and house numbering, which are foundational to the addressing ecosystem. Lawal expressed concern over the neglect of these functions, which has led to fragmented addressing systems, poor service delivery, and inadequate planning data in urban and rural areas.
Lawal further stated that the POA system offers a chance to formalize address identities for households, businesses, and facilities nationwide. Mrs. Rose Mibwala, General Manager of the Postcode and Addressing System at the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), echoed these sentiments, noting that the initiative represents a collective commitment to creating a secure, inclusive, and digitally integrated Nigeria. She added that addressing is now a key component of digital identity, financial inclusion, and national security, beyond just mail delivery.
Mibwala praised the collaboration between NIPOST and ALGON in driving the POA system and commended efforts to integrate postcodes and addressing into local governance frameworks.