Lagos Unveils Digital House Numbering to Curb Tax Evasion and Boost Smart City Vision

In a bold step towards enhancing governance, the Lagos State Government has officially launched the Lagos Identity Project—a digital house-numbering initiative designed to revolutionize property identification, improve service delivery, and support urban planning across the state.

Unveiled on Tuesday in Alausa, the project was introduced by Dr. Olajide Babajide, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Enterprise Geographic Information System (e-GIS). He emphasized that the innovation will tackle long-standing challenges such as tax evasion, untraceable addresses, and delayed emergency responses.

“This project is about delivering world-class services to Lagosians. From tax evasion to poor address traceability, these issues end here,” said Babajide.

Digital Plates with QR Codes to Power Lagos Smart City Ambition

At the core of the project are digital address plates embedded with QR codes and customized colour codes unique to each local government. These smart plates will provide real-time access to property details, aiding emergency services, improving postal operations, and ensuring more accurate urban development.

The initiative also aims to reduce rental fraud and enhance location tracking, particularly in congested areas. Babajide linked the project to the broader smart city agenda of Lagos, citing earlier achievements like the state’s data center under the administration of President Bola Tinubu—efforts that have garnered international acclaim, including recognition from the World Bank.

Currently piloting in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, the project will scale to all 57 LGAs and LCDAs upon successful implementation. It is being executed by trained local youth through the Ibile programme, ensuring grassroots participation and precise data capture. The initiative was developed in collaboration with Interspatial, a tech firm that conducted two years of aerial mapping for the project.

“This is more than a project—it’s a legacy aligned with global standards for civic identity and data protection,” Babajide affirmed.

Public-Private Partnership at Work

Yinka Adesiyan, a technical partner and co-sponsor of the initiative, underscored the benefits of the digital system, noting that it will improve security, transparency, and operational efficiency in Lagos.

“This goes far beyond assigning house numbers. It’s about making Lagos safer, smarter, and more connected,” Adesiyan said.

He also revealed that the address plates include Know Your Customer (KYC) features, which will further enhance urban planning and citywide security.

The Lagos State Government has fully funded the project—an investment Babajide says reflects a strong commitment to modernizing public services and governance.