The governments of Oyo, Rivers, Bauchi, Yobe, Cross River, Bayelsa, and Sokoto states have formally adopted the Proof of Address (PoA) system for statewide documentation.
A statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, which oversees the initiative, explained that the move represents a major advancement toward developing a unified and verifiable address structure across Nigeria.
According to the statement, with this adoption, the governors of the seven states have committed to a data-driven identification framework that enables accurate documentation of residents and business entities.
“The initiative, being implemented for the first time on a national scale, is expected to significantly improve access to essential services, strengthen security, and enhance governance,” the statement said.
The Local Government Proof of Address policy, introduced by the Federal Government, is designed to replace Nigeria’s long-term dependence on informal and non-standard address descriptions with a credible and standardised system that can be uniformly verified nationwide.
Under the system, a standardised proof of address becomes a key part of identity verification, allowing residents to access essential services such as electricity, water supply, internet connectivity, healthcare, insurance, and mobile communication services.
“It also strengthens financial inclusion by supporting Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements needed to open bank accounts, access credit, carry out secure transactions, and participate fully in the formal financial system,” the statement added.
The PoA framework is also expected to boost compliance with government and regulatory processes, including voter registration, issuance of official documents, employment verification, and school enrolment.
“By linking individuals and businesses to verifiable locations, the system adds a crucial layer of protection against fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes, while supporting more efficient logistics, e-commerce, emergency response, and service delivery.”
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation provides overall policy leadership and coordination, and issues directives mandating the implementation of PoA across ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, as well as state and local government institutions.
The Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, functions as the federal coordinating body and operational backbone, using its nationwide infrastructure to standardise addresses, conduct physical verification, and maintain address records in line with national guidelines.
At the community level, the 774 local government councils are expected to enact bye-laws to administer the process and mobilise residents through extensive sensitisation to ensure effective implementation.
