The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said the implementation of the Proof of Address, PoA, system will strengthen investigations and asset tracing.
The PoA is a Federal Government initiative aimed at introducing a data-driven identification system for documentation of residents and businesses.
It is expected to replace Nigeria’s longstanding reliance on informal and non-standard address descriptions and tools, such as utility bills, with a credible, standardised system that can be uniformly verified across the country.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, which is facilitating the implementation of the PoA, is working with various institutions to drive deployment of the system across all 774 LGAs in the country.
The anti-corruption agency pledged commitment to the implementation of the initiative during a courtesy visit by an ALGON delegation to the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
The ALGON delegation was led by Prince Segun Obayendo, Lead Technical Partner for the PoA initiative, alongside Abdulmajeed Abubakar, Deputy Director (Political) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which is coordinating the project at the federal level.
Speaking during the meeting, EFCC Secretary, Muhammed Hammajoda, who represented the Chairman of the Commission, described the PoA system as critical to strengthening investigations and asset tracing.
“Proof of address is essential in establishing ownership. When matters get to court, verifiable address data helps eliminate disputes over property ownership, whether involving tenants, landlords or third parties,” Hammajoda said.
He added that the Commission would give its full institutional support to ensure the integrity and reliability of the PoA database.
The ALGON officials noted that enrolment into the PoA system requires residents to link their address information with their National Identification Number (NIN), thereby integrating the database with existing identity management infrastructure.
It is expected that the linkage will enhance traceability, reduce identity-related fraud and improve coordination among security and regulatory agencies.
Meanwhile, a statement by the coordinating secretariat said the Proof of Address, PoA, system will officially kick off in Oyo State on March 1, 2026, following a government directive mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to commence full implementation of the address verification framework.
The directive was conveyed in a circular with reference No. AD/36/VOL.IV/72 dated February 18, 2026, signed by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Adetunji Babatunde.
The circular directed that all official transactions requiring address verification must henceforth comply with the approved PoA framework. It further mandated each MDA to appoint a desk officer, not below Grade Level 09 or 10, to serve as PoA focal person and coordinate reporting within the state’s central implementation structure.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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