STATES ACROSS NIGERIA, INCLUDING OYO, RIVERS, AND BAUCHI, ROLL OUT PROOF OF ADDRESS SYSTEM TO BOOST SERVICE DELIVERY AND SAFETY
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The governments of Oyo, Rivers, Bauchi, Yobe, Cross River, Bayelsa, and Sokoto have officially adopted the Proof of Address (PoA) system for statewide documentation.
A statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), which oversees the initiative, described the move as a significant step toward establishing a unified and verifiable address framework in Nigeria.
The statement further noted that, through this adoption, the governors of the seven states have endorsed a data-driven identification system designed to ensure accurate documentation of both residents and businesses.
“The initiative, being implemented nationally for the first time, is expected to greatly enhance access to essential services, strengthen security, and improve governance,” the statement said.
The Local Government Proof of Address policy, introduced by the Federal Government, aims to replace Nigeria’s long-standing reliance on informal and inconsistent address systems with a credible, standardized framework that can be uniformly verified across the country.
Under this framework, a standardized proof of address serves as a key component of identity verification, enabling residents to access vital services such as electricity, water, internet connectivity, healthcare, insurance, and mobile telecommunications.
“It also promotes financial inclusion by supporting Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements, which are essential for opening bank accounts, accessing credit, conducting secure transactions, and fully participating in the formal financial system,” the statement added.
The PoA initiative is also expected to enhance compliance with government and legal requirements, including voter registration, issuance of official documents, employment verification, and school enrollment.
“By linking individuals and businesses to verifiable addresses, the system provides an essential layer of protection against fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes, while also supporting more efficient logistics, e-commerce, emergency response, and service delivery,” the statement said.
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) provides overall policy direction and coordination, issuing directives for the adoption of PoA across ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and sub-national governments.
The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) serves as the federal coordinating and operational agency, leveraging its nationwide infrastructure to standardize addresses, conduct physical verification, and manage address data in accordance with national standards.
At the local level, the 774 local government councils are tasked with enacting bye-laws, mobilizing residents, and conducting robust sensitization campaigns to ensure effective implementation of the initiative.
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