As the world marks International Identity Day today, former Postmaster General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Bisi Adegbuyi, has called for stronger integration of digital identity with location data to improve the delivery of public services.

Adegbuyi said Nigeria’s progress in building digital identity, payment and tax systems would have limited impact if the government could not use the infrastructure to ensure that services and interventions reached the intended beneficiaries.

In a statement to mark the day, which is observed internationally on September 16 and recognised in Nigeria as National Identity Day, Adegbuyi proposed what he described as a “phygital” last-mile system linking digital identity and verified location to service delivery.

According to him, such a system would enable government and businesses to identify not only who a person is, but also where the person, household or business is located, thereby improving the delivery of social interventions, healthcare, food, medicine and logistics.

“Identity is fundamental. It establishes the person, enables recognition, and underwrites trust and participation in modern life,” Adegbuyi said.

Adegbuyi, who is also Chairman and Founder of Grandview Computational Geography Company Limited, said the proposed system should federate existing institutions responsible for identity, addressing, payments, taxation and social protection rather than creating another centralised database.

He also said the approach could improve food and healthcare supply chains by enabling government and businesses to track the movement of goods from farms and pharmaceutical suppliers to markets, healthcare facilities and verified dispensing points.