Telecom
FG Approves GIS-enabled Digital Postcode to Tackle Logistics Gaps, Boost E-commerce
Federal Executive Council has approved the rollout of a nationwide alphanumeric digital postcode system, a move believe will modernise the country’s addressing framework and support growth in logistics, e-commerce and emergency services.
The approval, granted under president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, paves the way for the introduction of a Geographic Information System (GIS)-enabled postcode platform designed to provide more accurate and standardised location data across Africa’s most populous nation.
Bosun Tijani, the federal minister of Communications and Digital Economy of Nigeria, who disclosed this via X, said the reform, developed in collaboration with Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), would replace inconsistent and often manually described addresses with a structured alphanumeric format tied to geospatial coordinates.
Nigeria’s current addressing system has long posed challenges for postal deliveries, emergency response teams and e-commerce operators, particularly in densely populated urban areas and rapidly expanding peri-urban communities where street naming and house numbering remain irregular.
The new system is expected to improve the precision of mail and parcel sorting, reduce failed deliveries and shorten turnaround times for logistics firms serving a fast-growing online retail market.
Tijani affirmed that the digital postcode framework would extend beyond postal operations, describing it as a foundational layer for national planning and public service delivery. By embedding geographic intelligence into address identification, authorities expect better data integration across agencies responsible for health, security, taxation and urban development.
The reform aligns with Nigeria’s broader digital economy strategy, which aims to build core infrastructure to support fintech, e-commerce and government digitisation efforts.
Industry executives have repeatedly cited weak address verification systems as a bottleneck for expanding nationwide logistics coverage, particularly outside major commercial hubs such as Lagos and Abuja.
Under the new framework, each location will be assigned a unique alphanumeric code linked to geospatial data, allowing for machine-readable sorting and integration into mapping systems. Authorities say this will enable faster emergency response deployment and more efficient route planning for both public and private sector operators.
The government did not provide a timeline for full nationwide deployment but indicated that implementation would proceed in partnership with NIPOST and other relevant agencies.
Officials described the approval as part of efforts to create an enabling environment for a modern and inclusive digital economy, positioning accurate addressing as critical infrastructure in the same category as broadband connectivity and data centres.
For businesses and consumers alike, the shift could mark a structural change in how goods, services and public resources are delivered across the country.
Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.
MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.
The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.
MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
MultiChoice to Discontinue Showmax Streaming Platform
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