Nigerian Government Unveils LG Proof of Address Initiative to Enhance Citizen Identification

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Project Initiation
• Implementation
• New Arrangement
• Alignment with Development Agenda
• Issues with Utility Bills
• National Identification Number
• Benefits of POA
• Awareness Efforts

The Federal Government has officially launched the Local Government Proof of Address (POA) project, an initiative aimed at enhancing national security, improving citizen identification, and refining service delivery nationwide.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), received formal approval through a circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), with reference number 5964B/S, 13/VBA/T.IIIA/704.

According to the circular, the POA scheme commenced on October 1, 2025. However, the implementation is at various stages across different federal and state Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The circular states that under the new framework, all federal and state MDAs, government-owned corporations, and public institutions are required to replace the traditional use of utility bills as proof of residence with the standardized Proof of Address issued at the local government level.

The circular clarified that the POA project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point development agenda, particularly focusing on governance reform, enhancing security, and improving institutional efficiency.

The initiative is managed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) acting as the coordinating federal agency.

“For years, reliance on utility bills as proof of residence has presented significant challenges. Many Nigerians lack utility bills in their names, while others depend on outdated or shared documents that do not accurately reflect their current residence.

“Additionally, the growing use of digital services and prepaid utilities has further diminished the reliability of utility bills as a credible verification tool,” the circular noted.

Furthermore, it highlighted that while the National Identification Number (NIN) remains a vital part of Nigeria’s identity management framework, a significant number of NIN records do not contain current or accurate residential addresses, limiting their utility for residency verification, security profiling, and service planning.

“The POA is, therefore, intended to address this crucial gap by providing verified, location-specific, and up-to-date address information directly linked to local governments.

“The POA framework establishes residency verification at the grassroots level, where local authorities possess better knowledge of their communities. By anchoring address verification at the local government level, this initiative is anticipated to enhance community-level intelligence, crime prevention, emergency response, and accuracy in population data,” it added.

Beyond security, the circular indicated that the POA data is expected to yield numerous benefits, including improved public service delivery, equitable resource distribution, disaster management planning, urban development, targeted social interventions, and financial inclusion.

The circular instructed state governments to spearhead awareness and sensitization efforts within their jurisdictions, with technical and institutional support from the OSGF, NIPOST, and ALGON.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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