Nigeria’s New Postcode Explained: What Changed and What to Do

Last verified 1 October 2026 · By the Editorial team · Sources

Short answer: On 1 October 2026, NIPOST launched a new digital postcode at postcode.gov.ng. It gives each mapped building its own code of letters and numbers, such as LA 01 A03 FK 01. The familiar 6-digit codes, such as 100283, cover a whole area. Many forms still ask for the 6-digit code.

What the new postcode is

NIPOST calls it the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode. Instead of naming a broad postal area, it points to one building.

Each code has five parts, read from the widest area to the smallest:

Part Example What it identifies
State LA The state or the FCT
LGA 01 The local government area
District A03 A district within the LGA
Area FK An area within the district
Building 01 The building itself

NIPOST shows the code with spaces (FC 02 A09 DB 09). Its developer documentation also shows it with hyphens (EK-01-A03-FK-01). Both forms mean the same code. For the full breakdown, read New postcode format decoded.

Who launched it, and when

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy announced the launch on 1 October 2026, according to Condia's report. The service runs at postcode.gov.ng, with a mobile app for finding, saving and sharing codes.

The same report says the government aimed for more than 90% of buildings to be covered at launch, and for nationwide coverage by the end of 2026. Those are targets, not confirmed figures.

What it means for you today

  • You don't need to choose one code forever. The new postcode sits alongside your written address. It does not replace your street name, estate or town.
  • The postcode belongs to the building, not the person. If you move, you use the code of your new building. Everyone in the same building shares one code.
  • Most forms still want 6 digits. If a form's postcode field accepts only numbers, the new postcode won't fit, because it contains letters. See Which code to put on online forms.
  • There is no conversion table. You can't work out a building's new code from its old 6-digit code, or the other way round. See Old vs new postcode.

The guides in this series

  1. How to find your new postcode
  2. Old vs new postcode: which to use
  3. Which code to put on online forms
  4. My building is not listed
  5. New postcode format decoded
  6. Postcode aliases for businesses
  7. Banks, KYC and the new postcode
  8. Postcode API for developers
  9. State rollout tracker

Looking for a 6-digit code?

Our state pages list the 6-digit codes by LGA and area. Start with Lagos or Abuja (FCT).

Independent guide. Nigeria Postcodes is an independent site. It is not affiliated with NIPOST or the Federal Government. To look up a building's new postcode, use postcode.gov.ng.

Sources

We opened and checked each of these on 1 October 2026.