How to Create a Postcode Alias for Your Business, School or Organisation

A customer wants to visit your shop, so they ask for directions. Instead of giving them a string of numbers and letters, you simply tell them your business name, and they find it. That is the idea behind the postcode alias, a feature built for exactly this kind of situation.

Every building in Nigeria's digital postcode system already has its own 11-character postcode. An alias adds a second, more familiar way for people to find that same building, using a name instead of a code.

What is A Postcode Alias?

An alias is a recognisable name attached to a specific postcode. Once it is approved, anyone searching for that name in the postcode application will be directed straight to the correct building, the same way searching a business name on a maps app takes you to its exact location.

The postcode still identifies the physical building. The alias simply gives people an easier way to search for it.

Commercial vs General Alias

There are two types of alias, and which one you apply for depends on what kind of location you are registering.

A Commercial Alias, also called a Business Alias, applies to registered businesses. This is the option a shop, company, or service provider would use to attach its business name to a building's postcode. You can create a business alias through the Postcode dashboard. A General Alias applies to non-commercial locations such as schools, places of worship, and other recognised community locations. You can create this on the mobile app.

Why a Business May Want an Alias

An alias lets customers search your business name directly and reach the same result they would get by typing your exact postcode.

This matters for customers trying to find you for the first time, delivery riders trying to locate your shop, and anyone sharing your location with someone else. A recognisable name is simply easier to remember and pass along than a string of characters.

A Business Alias is unique, helping connect your business name to the correct business and location. If your business has several branches, the alias system will need to distinguish the different locations while keeping them connected to the same business or brand. The exact process for registering and identifying multiple branches is still being finalised, so businesses should follow the instructions provided on the dashboard when registering additional locations.

How Customers Can Find a Location Using Its Name

Once your alias is approved, it works alongside your building's postcode inside the search function. A customer typing your business name into the postcode application will see your location, complete with the building's verified postcode and map position.

This gives you a second, more intuitive entry point into a system that is otherwise built around precise building codes.

How to Request an Alias

The process depends on the type of alias you are requesting. Business Alias requests are handled through the Postcode dashboard, while General Alias requests are done on the app.

For a Business Alias

If you are registering an alias for a business, sign in to the Postcode dashboard and use the Business Alias feature there. Enter the required business and location information, select the postcode you want the alias associated with, provide the required supporting documents, review your information, and submit the request for approval.

Your alias does not replace the building's postcode. It creates a familiar business-name reference associated with that location. The postcode remains the official location identifier, while the alias provides the memorable reference people can search for.

For a General Alias

• Open the Postcode application and go to the Saved section.
• Select Alias at the top of the screen.
• Choose General as your alias type.
• Enter the location name along with the other requested information.
• Select the relevant postcode, either from your current location or from a postcode you have already saved.
• Upload the required supporting documents.
• Review your submission and select Submit.

After you submit, you can return to Saved → Alias to open your request and check its current status.

CAC Documentation and Other Supporting Information

Because a Business Alias represents a registered business, NIPOST asks for documentation that helps confirm that the person requesting the alias has a legitimate connection to the business.

For a Business Alias, you will typically need:

• Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration documents.
• Identification for the person submitting the request.
• Proof of ownership or lease for the building.
• A photograph of the building.

Together, these documents help NIPOST verify the business and its connection to the location before approving the alias. This verification is particularly important because a Business Alias is unique, and the review process helps reduce the risk of someone claiming a business or brand name they do not own.

General Aliases for Schools, Places of Worship and Other Locations

If you are adding a school, place of worship, or another recognised location, choose General as your alias type. Then select the appropriate category and enter the place's name.

The form also asks you to upload an identity document, and you can add the location's phone number, email address, and website. Next, select the location's postcode. You can use your current location if you are physically there or choose a saved postcode. You can also add a photo of the location and choose whether you own the building.

Once you have provided the required information, review the details and select Submit to send the place for review.

What Happens After Submission

Once you submit your alias request with the required information and documents, it enters NIPOST's review process. The review may take up to 48 hours.

For a Business Alias, return to the Postcode dashboard to check your request rather than looking for it in the mobile app. If NIPOST requests a correction or additional information, follow the instructions provided with your request and resubmit the required information.

Conclusion

Your building keeps its original 11-character postcode permanently. The alias adds a name on top of it, giving people another way to reach the same location.

For businesses, Business Alias registration is handled through the Postcode dashboard, where the business and its connection to the location can be reviewed before the alias is approved.

Your business stays connected to the verified location whether someone searches by name or by code.

A postcode identifies the building. An alias turns a technical postcode into a name your customers already know and can search just as easily.