Lagos launches digital house numbering system
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday unveiled the pilot phase of its innovative “Identifier” project, a comprehensive digital addressing system aimed at streamlining house numbering and street naming across the state.
The project, set to begin in Ikeja next week, was launched by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme (NLTRDP) at Victoria Island. The event was organised by the Lagos State Office of Electronic Geographic Information System (e-GIS) and Urban Development, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described the initiative as a technological solution to improve property identification, enhance navigation, boost service delivery, and strengthen urban management. “Lagos digital house numbering system is a novel idea. It is about technology as a strong enabler to resolve land issues, where from the comfort of your home you can access and resolve land title matters,” he said.
The governor noted that the system would allow access to all relevant information about a property through its unique address. He commended the Federal Government for its Renewed Hope Agenda to unlock the economic power of land, stressing that electronic documentation was the only way to reduce physical interference and secure land rights.
Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, said the Identifier project includes QR codes and local government-specific colour codes for easy identification. He explained that it would modernise infrastructure, improve residents’ quality of life, enhance security, boost revenue generation, and make service delivery more efficient.
Dr. Babatunde said the successful rollout of the Identifier project would place Lagos at the forefront of digital land administration in Nigeria. He emphasised the government’s commitment to embedding technology in urban planning for sustainable development.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, announced plans to improve formal land titling in Nigeria from its current level to 50 percent within the next decade. He said the initiative would modernise land administration and turn land into a viable asset for wealth creation, housing delivery, and inclusive growth, while allowing states to retain control over land management.
The minister revealed that over 97 percent of land in Nigeria is untitled, limiting its use as collateral for loans and reducing its value in property transactions. He said the new programme would enable other states to digitise land registries, integrate geographic information systems, and adopt global best practices already in use in Lagos.
