Share Milsat, a Nigerian geospatial technology company, has developed the technology behind the country's new National Digital Postcode system. The company, founded by Taslim Saluadeen and Adedamola Baderinwa, helped the National Population Commission map over 65 million properties ahead of Nigeria's first digital census. This achievement highlights the growing role of locally built geospatial infrastructure in addressing Nigeria's location-data challenges.
The digital postcode system aims to provide a precise digital identity for locations, impacting public service delivery, logistics, business operations, emergency response, and other services reliant on accurate location information. Milsat's involvement demonstrates how investments in geospatial data can serve multiple government and commercial purposes. Before its national postcode deployment, the company conducted a pilot in 2023 and expanded its technology for a nationwide system.
Milsat's work with the National Population Commission involved mapping over 65 million properties as part of preparations for Nigeria's first digital census. This experience gives the company a significant base of location and field-data expertise. Government agencies and businesses increasingly require accurate digital maps to plan services and reach people and properties. Milsat has also deployed enumeration area demarcation technology in Sierra Leone, extending its geospatial capabilities beyond Nigeria.
Nigeria's digital infrastructure challenge extends beyond telecommunications networks or internet access. The ability to accurately identify locations of people, businesses, properties, and public infrastructure is becoming crucial for the country's digital economy. Reliable location data can reduce failed deliveries, improve route planning, and strengthen customer verification and service delivery.
The national postcode provides an opportunity to turn location information into digital infrastructure usable across several parts of the economy. Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, acknowledged Milsat's contribution and described the company as an example of Nigerian technical capability being developed for domestic needs and taken to international markets.
Milsat's trajectory points to a broader opportunity beyond Nigeria's fintech and software sectors. The company's work demonstrates how Nigerian technology firms can build specialised infrastructure around local problems, accumulate expertise through government projects, and convert that expertise into exportable products and services. This opportunity is particularly relevant to Africa, where many countries face similar challenges around addressing systems, property mapping, and population data.
The long-term value of the digital postcode depends on adoption by government agencies, businesses, and consumers. For the system to become useful digital infrastructure, postcode data must be integrated into logistics, e-commerce, financial services, public administration, and other location-dependent services. Milsat's progression from a 2023 pilot to a national digital postcode system showcases how specialised Nigerian technology firms can move from solving domestic problems to competing in wider African markets.
Key points
- Milsat mapped over 65 million properties ahead of Nigeria's first digital census.
- The digital postcode system aims to provide a precise digital identity for locations.
- Milsat's work demonstrates how Nigerian technology firms can build specialised infrastructure around local problems.
