…Launches Nationwide Digital Birth, Death Registration
Despite recording an estimated five million births annually, millions of Nigerian children remain without a legal identity as only 57 per cent of births are registered nationwide, while less than 20 per cent of deaths are officially documented, posing a major challenge to national planning and service delivery.
To bridge the gap, the National Population Commission (NPC) has commenced the nationwide digital registration of births and deaths through its Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, described the initiative, which took effect on July 1, 2026, as “one of the most transformative reforms in the history of civil registration in Nigeria.”
He said: “Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, yet millions of these births and deaths go unregistered. Birth registration coverage currently stands at about 57 per cent nationwide, while death registration remains below 20 per cent. These gaps deprive many Nigerians of legal identity and limit the availability of reliable data needed for effective national planning.”
According to Yusuf, the digital VitalReg platform will deliver faster registration services, 24-hour online access, digital certificate issuance, automated data validation and a more secure national database.
He disclosed that the Commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the country’s 774 local government areas, with plans to expand the network to about 8,000 centres.
Describing the reform as a major milestone, Yusuf said, “This digital innovation reflects the Commission’s unwavering commitment to leveraging technology to improve service delivery, strengthen data integrity, and guarantee that every birth and every death occurring in Nigeria is documented accurately and securely.”
He further announced a partnership with ALGON, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited to decentralise registration services and improve access at the grassroots.
While confirming a review of fees for specialised administrative services, Yusuf assured Nigerians that “this review is not intended to create barriers to access. Birth registration and birth notification services remain highly subsidised in line with the Commission’s commitment to achieving universal registration.”
Calling for public support, he urged Nigerians to register all births and deaths promptly, stressing that “together, we can build a modern civil registration system that guarantees every Nigerian a legal identity from birth, provides credible demographic data for national development, and supports effective governance and evidence-based planning.”
Responding to questions, Acting Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Manasseh Aboho, said Nigerians at home and abroad can now register births and obtain certificates online, while physical registration centres remain available for those without internet access. He added that the Commission’s database would serve as Nigeria’s foundational identity database through secure interoperability.
Also speaking, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, Federal Commissioner representing Oyo State and Director of Vital Registration, said birth registration for children aged zero to five years and death registration within the prescribed period remain free, urging Nigerians to register vital events promptly.
The Team Lead of Barnksforte Technologies Limited, Mr. Dayo Bankole, said every digitally registered newborn would automatically receive a National Identification Number (NIN), while the system would deactivate the NINs of deceased persons after death registration, helping to curb identity theft, financial fraud and child trafficking. He added that the platform complies with National Data Protection Commission and international security standards.
