LAGOS LAUNCHES DIGITAL ADDRESS SYSTEM TO BOOST REVENUE AND URBAN PLANNING
Lagos Launches Digital Address System to Boost Revenue and Urban Planning. Lagos State has introduced a digital system for house numbering designed to curb tax evasion, boost revenue collection, and enhance urban planning efficiency, the initiative launched on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 will allocate unique digital identifiers to all residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties throughout Lagos State.
Dr. Olajide Babajide, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Enterprise Geographic Information System (e-GIS), introduced the system, stating, “We’ve faced challenges like tax evasion and untraceable addresses, this digital solution is designed to fix that.” Through formal property identification, Lagos aims to capture previously undocumented buildings within the tax framework, a strategy anticipated to increase the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR). The Lagos State Government stated that the digital house numbering system will improve the accuracy of property records, enabling officials to better track ownership, monitor usage, and enforce equitable tax compliance. The absence of standardised physical addresses has historically made it difficult for both residents and government agencies to properly identify properties for taxation and service delivery.
In the past, informal addressing systems have hindered commerce and disrupted delivery logistics. Even with previous efforts like What3words, ambiguity around location identification has continued to be a challenge. Lagos, Nigeria’s top-performing state in terms of internally generated revenue (IGR), is deepening its reliance on technology to formalise both its economy and urban systems. The new digital house numbering scheme expands on earlier initiatives that have introduced smart solutions in transport, payment systems, and land administration.
For instance, the launch of the Cowry card for commuters allowed the government to monitor revenue from informal transport operators and enhance service coordination across the city. In addition to improving tax collection, the digital property ID system is expected to enhance urban planning, emergency response, and public service delivery. Clear and accurate house numbers will help health workers, fire services, and security agencies reach specific locations more efficiently.
The Lagos State Government sees standardised digital addresses as a critical step toward building a smarter, more efficient city. By identifying previously undocumented properties, the system is also expected to generate new revenue streams through improved tax inclusion. However, the effectiveness of the system will hinge on public participation, reliable data collection, and targeted efforts to include informal housing settlements that often lack proper records. Home to more than 17 million people and experiencing rapid urban growth, Lagos is under increasing pressure to streamline its economy, enhance service delivery, and curb tax avoidance. The digital house numbering initiative marks a significant move toward harnessing technology for improved governance and long-term development.
