The Federal Government (FG) has promised to keep using technology to improve the security of the country.
Dr. Salihu Dasuki, the President’s Special Assistant on ICT Policy, said this on Thursday in Ibadan.
He spoke during the launch of ‘YardCode’, a new tech-based addressing system, and said the government is strongly committed to using technology to solve Nigeria’s security problems.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), YardCode was created by Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN). It is a digital platform that uses local data to map out locations across Nigeria.
Dasuki, who spoke virtually, praised the YardCode project. He said it would help improve communication and coordination during emergencies.
He explained that better communication is important for quick responses to security issues.
Dasuki stressed that the government remains fully committed to using technology to fight insecurity.
“YardCode is more than just a new app,” he said. “It is a new way of solving problems in our communities.”
He added that using technology will help create a safer Nigeria. This project, he said, shows the government’s strong focus on national safety.
Dasuki also said that using technology in security systems will help the country respond faster to threats and protect its citizens better.
He believes YardCode will fix problems with Nigeria’s current addressing system and improve the nation’s overall safety.
Also speaking, the Surveyor General of the Federation, Mr. Abduganiyu Adebomehin, said that insecurity has long been a major issue holding Nigeria back.
He said the current PostCode system isn’t good enough and that Nigeria urgently needs a better, more accurate, and easy-to-use way of mapping addresses.
He explained that YardCode gives a unique and permanent code to every square metre in the country, making it a big step forward.
He said this innovation could improve many areas, including public services, emergency responses, planning, and collecting population data.
Adebomehin praised RAIN for its creativity, hard work, and commitment to using modern technology to help the country grow.
He said the benefits of YardCode are very big and cannot be ignored.
Earlier, the founder of RAIN and lead developer of YardCode, Dr. Olusola Ayoola, said the app will serve as Nigeria’s new addressing tool.
He said YardCode gives every place in Nigeria a unique name.
Dr. Ayoola said Nigeria isn’t just copying technology from other countries, but is creating its own solutions.
He explained that YardCode is the first system of its kind that works without internet. It’s designed specifically for Africa and works across the whole of Nigeria right away.
He added that YardCode could become a model for other West African countries and even the world.
He said that now, every Nigerian — including farmers and business owners — can have an address that connects them to the global economy.
“We are moving from a Nigeria with address problems to a Nigeria with clear, working addresses,” he said. “We’re going from confusion to clarity, and leading the world in location technology.”
Ayoola thanked the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for supporting tech development in Nigeria.
Also, Mr. Bayo Akande, who is Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on ICT and E-Governance, said that the Oyo State Government will support this innovation.