Lagos Launches Digital House Numbering Pilot in Ikeja to Boost Transparency and Urban Governance

The Lagos State Government has announced that its digital house numbering initiative, dubbed the “Identifier Project,” will begin its pilot phase in Ikeja, the state capital, by next week [1]. The program aims to assign a unique digital identity to every property in Lagos, integrating QR codes and color-coded systems specific to local governments. This will enable easier access to property data, improve emergency response times, and streamline postal services and urban planning [2].

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who unveiled the project earlier this year, described it as a transformative step toward resolving long-standing land ownership and administrative challenges in the state [3]. The digital system is expected to curb tax evasion, reduce fraud in rental agreements, and enhance transparency in property transactions. By linking each building to a verifiable digital address, authorities will be able to track ownership, building approvals, and outstanding bills more effectively [4].

The project also supports Lagos’ broader smart city agenda, aligning with previous technological developments such as the state’s data centre. It is part of an effort to modernize infrastructure and improve service delivery for residents of one of Africa’s most populous urban centers [5]. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Lagos State Office of Electronic Geographic Information System (e-GIS) and Urban Development, and with support from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development [6].

This move aligns with a national push to modernize land administration. The Federal Minister of Housing and Urban Development has set a goal to increase formally titled land in Nigeria from less than 3% to 50% over the next decade, emphasizing that untitled land significantly hinders its use as collateral for loans [7]. In Lagos, where housing demand is estimated at over 3.17 million, the system is expected to improve rental activities and reduce fraud in densely populated areas [8].

The rollout of the Identifier Project in Ikeja marks the first step in a phased expansion across Lagos. The government hopes the initiative will not only address local challenges but also serve as a model for other Nigerian states seeking to modernize land governance and boost economic activity [9].

Sources:

[1] TechNext.ng, https://technext24.com/2025/08/13/lagos-state-digital-house-number-ikeja/

[2] Premium Times, https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/813836-lagos-unveils-pilot-phase-of-digital-housing-numbering-system.html

[3] The Whistler, https://thewhistler.ng/lagos-commences-digital-house-numbering-project/

[4] The Guardian, https://guardian.ng/news/97-untitled-land-limiting-collateral-for-loans-says-minister/

[5] Arise TV, https://www.arise.tv/lagos-introduces-smart-digital-address-numbering-for-buildings/