The Oyo State Government has adopted the full implementation of its Proof of Address (PoA) initiative, fixing March 1 as the official take-off date for the scheme, state officials said on Thursday.
The PoA initiative, a digital address verification system, is aimed at providing residents and businesses with a standardised and verifiable address, a move authorities say will strengthen security, urban planning and service delivery across the state.
Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, said the programme had moved beyond pilot stages and stakeholder consultations, paving the way for statewide implementation.
“With the adoption of full implementation, the Proof of Address system will commence from March 1,” Akin-Funmilayo said. “This initiative will support effective governance by ensuring accurate address data for residents and property owners.”
Under the scheme, properties will be registered into a central digital database, enabling government agencies and emergency services to locate addresses more efficiently. The rollout will begin in major urban centres such as Ibadan, Ogbomosho and Oyo town, before being extended to other parts of the state.
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The state government said the PoA would complement existing national identity systems, including the National Identification Number (NIN), and assist security agencies amid ongoing concerns over crime and rapid urbanisation.
Across Nigeria, subnational governments have increasingly pursued digital reforms to improve internally generated revenue and public administration, as fiscal pressures persist. Analysts note that weak address systems have long hindered effective policing, taxation and disaster response in many cities.
Oyo officials said measures had been put in place to protect residents’ data, stressing that information collected under the PoA would be handled in line with data protection regulations.
Civil society groups have welcomed the initiative but urged the government to prioritise public sensitisation and affordability to avoid excluding vulnerable residents. The state government said awareness campaigns would be intensified ahead of the March 1 take-off.
Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has repeatedly emphasised data-driven governance as key to sustainable development, with officials describing the PoA as a critical step towards modernising public administration in Oyo State.
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