Goodbye mango tree, hello AWS: The cloud sovereignty paradox behind Nigeria’s new postcode

“Turn left at the blue container, look for the mango tree, and stop before the brick fence.”

For generations, finding a home in Nigeria meant understanding street codenames and landmarks. Now, the government is replacing that with a digital postcode system that promises building-level precision.

On October 1, Nigeria launched the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System (NDAPS), assigning unique 11-character codes to “addressable buildings” across the country. The system is designed to pinpoint buildings, making it easier to locate deliveries…