Updated 28 September 2026 · Travo.ng
Quick answer
Your Nigerian postal code is a six-digit number set by NIPOST. The first digit shows your region, the first three digits your dispatch district, and the last three your delivery area. To find yours, identify your state, LGA and town, then check it with your nearest NIPOST post office or a postcode directory. Main post offices end in 001: Lagos (Ikeja) is 100001, Abuja (Garki) 900001 and Port Harcourt 500001.
Online shops, banks, embassies and courier companies often ask for a postal code, and a wrong one can delay a delivery or block a form. This guide shows how Nigerian postcodes work, how to find the exact code for where you live in a few minutes, and gives the main codes for major cities.
How Nigerian postal codes work
| Part of the code | Digits | What it means | Example: 900001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | 1st digit | One of nine postal regions | 9 = Abuja / FCT region |
| Dispatch district | 1st to 3rd digits | The sorting district for outgoing mail | 900 |
| Delivery location | Last 3 digits | Post office, rural or urban delivery area | 001 = Garki main post office |
Source: Wikipedia, Postal codes in Nigeria (citing NIPOST). Codes run from 100001 (lowest) to 982002 (highest).
Because the first digit is the region, you can tell roughly where a code belongs at a glance: Lagos codes start with 1, Port Harcourt with 5 and Abuja with 9. Codes ending in 001 usually belong to a main post office.
How to find the postal code of your location: step by step
- Write down your state, LGA and town or district. Postcodes follow postal districts, so the LGA and town matter more than your street name.
- Look up that town or LGA in a postcode directory that lists codes by state and area, such as postalcode.ng. Check the result against a second source if you can, because free directories sometimes disagree.
- Confirm with NIPOST. Use the NIPOST Post Office Finder to find your nearest post office, then ask the counter for your area’s code. NIPOST is the official source.
- Use a nearby landmark. If your street is new or unlisted, use the code of the post office that serves your area.
- Save it. Keep the code with your address on your phone so you use the same one on every form.
If a form insists on a code and you truly cannot find your local one, the main post office code for your city (ending in 001) is usually accepted, but your local code gives faster, more accurate delivery.
Postal codes for major Nigerian cities
| City | State | Main postal code |
|---|---|---|
| Ikeja | Lagos | 100001 |
| Abeokuta | Ogun | 110001 |
| Ibadan | Oyo | 200001 |
| Benin City | Edo | 300001 |
| Asaba | Delta | 320001 |
| Enugu | Enugu | 400001 |
| Owerri | Imo | 460001 |
| Port Harcourt | Rivers | 500001 |
| Uyo | Akwa Ibom | 520001 |
| Calabar | Cross River | 540001 |
| Kano | Kano | 700001 |
| Kaduna | Kaduna | 800001 |
| Sokoto | Sokoto | 840001 |
| Garki (Abuja) | FCT | 900001 |
| Jos | Plateau | 930001 |
Sources: Wikipedia, Postal codes in Nigeria (Ikeja, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Garki); postalcode.ng state table (all rows). These are main post office codes; your district may have a different code.
Within a big city the codes change by district. Lagos codes run from 100001 to 102361, and Port Harcourt codes from 500001 to 500272, according to postalcode.ng. So a Lekki, Surulere or Ikorodu address will usually have a different code from Ikeja’s 100001 — check your own area.
Common postal code mistakes
- Using a US-style five-digit ZIP code. Nigerian codes always have six digits.
- Copying the code for your state capital when your LGA has its own code.
- Using a code from an old address after you move.
- Trusting a single free website without checking it against another source or NIPOST.
- Leaving out landmarks and a phone number. For local deliveries, a clear address and a reachable number matter as much as the code.
When you need your postal code
- Shopping on international sites and shipping to Nigeria.
- Bank, fintech and card applications that verify your address.
- Visa, passport and embassy forms.
- Sending or receiving parcels by courier within Nigeria or abroad.
- Registering a business or filling in official forms.
For deliveries, a correct postcode helps couriers sort your parcel to the right hub. See our guides to tracking a package and interstate package delivery.
Sending a parcel in Nigeria?
Book a pickup on Travo and send documents or packages within your city, between states or abroad.
Area postcode guides
Looking for a specific city? See our local guides for Calabar, Kano, Owerri North and Abakaliki.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know the postal code of my location in Nigeria?
Identify your state, LGA and town, look it up in a postcode directory, and confirm with your nearest NIPOST post office. NIPOST is the official source.
How many digits is a Nigerian postal code?
Six. The first digit is the region, the first three the dispatch district and the last three the delivery area.
What is the postal code for Lagos?
Ikeja’s main post office code is 100001. Lagos codes run from 100001 to 102361, so your district’s code may be different.
What is the postal code for Abuja?
Garki main post office is 900001. Other Abuja districts have their own codes starting with 9.
Is a ZIP code the same as a postal code in Nigeria?
Yes, the terms are used for the same thing. Nigeria uses six-digit postal codes, not five-digit US ZIP codes.
Can I use 100001 for any address in Lagos?
Forms usually accept it, but your local district code is more accurate and helps couriers deliver faster.
Can Google Maps tell me my postal code?
Sometimes, but not always accurately in Nigeria. Confirm the code with NIPOST or a directory before using it on official forms.
Related guides
- Track a package with a tracking number
- Interstate package delivery in Nigeria
- Same-day delivery with Travo
- International shipping from Nigeria
Sources: Wikipedia, Postal codes in Nigeria (citing NIPOST); postalcode.ng; NIPOST. Fares and prices change often — confirm before you travel or pay.
