By SALISU SANI-IDRIS

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Thursday said the Federal Government would reinvigorate the National Addressing Council (NAC) to address challenges associated with the addressing system in the country.

Shettima said this during a pre-meeting of the council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, the spokesperson to the Vice-President, said in a statement.

He explained that the meeting marked the beginning of a transformative journey towards a Nigeria defined by order, trust, and opportunity.

?We are not just solving logistical challenges; we are laying the foundation for a more organised, secure, and prosperous Nigeria.

?This is our collective responsibility, and we must see it through,? he added.

Shettima said a technical committee would to be inaugurated in 2025 to drive the country?s agenda on planning, economic and financial inclusion.

The Vice-President added that the committee would also ensure an effective National Addressing System.

He underscored the need for immediate standardisation of Nigeria?s addressing system.

Shettima described the move as essential for improving service delivery, enhancing urban planning, and driving economic growth.

He noted that standardising Nigeria?s addressing system was long overdue, adding that it would end decades of infrastructural deficits and create a systematic approach to national address mapping.

?We cannot solve the challenges of urban planning, service delivery, or even basic navigation unless we establish a system that creates order.

?A robust addressing system is not just about convenience; it is about national development, security, and socio-economic progress,? said Shettima.

He decried the consequences of the current disorganised system, noting its impact on governance, logistics, and the financial inclusion of many Nigerians.

?We live in cities where most houses are either haphazardly numbered or not numbered at all.

?This does more than complicate address mapping ? it undermines trust in address verification, slows emergency responses, and excludes millions from financial services,? he explained.

Shettima praised the foundational work done seven years ago when the National Addressing System initiative was introduced.

The Vice-President, however, noted that there was a need to move beyond frameworks to implementation.

?This was not a vision to be left in dusty drawers or delayed indefinitely. Addressing is fundamental to our aspirations of becoming a 21st-century economy.

?A standardised addressing system will enhance logistics, strengthen e-commerce, and foster trust in financial services.

?Political will and technical expertise must work hand in hand to make this initiative a success,? Shettima said.

Earlier, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, said the focus of the meeting was to galvanise the federal government?s renewed efforts in driving economic and financial inclusion, among other targets.

He said leveraging opportunities in the National Addressing System would fast track government?s vision of attaining inclusivity and economic prosperity, especially for Nigerians in the rural areas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the meeting the National Identity Management Commission made a presentation on enhancing the nation?s address verification system.

The presentation also centered on building a critical infrastructure for the national addressing database project.

Also, the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) gave an overview of the National Addressing System which highlighted the work done by the current management, emphasising the need for harmonising the address database in Nigeria.

The NIPOST presentation focused more on harmonising the postcode with the national addressing system, deploying the latest technology, particularly geo-locating the physical addresses of Nigerians captured in the project. (NAN)

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