Commission Launches Nationwide Digital Birth, Death Registration Platform

The National Population Commission (NPC) has announced the full commencement of digital registration of births and deaths across Nigeria under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system, effective from July 1, 2026.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, described the initiative as a historic milestone in Nigeria’s civil registration system, saying it would modernize the registration of vital events and strengthen national planning through accurate and reliable data.

“It is my distinct honor and privilege on behalf of the National Population Commission to formally announce the full commencement of the digital registration of births and deaths on the vital record platform under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system, effective 1st July 2026,” Kwarra said.

He noted that the digital platform is now operational in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, adding that it builds on the launch of the E-CRVS system and inauguration of the National Coordination Committee on CRVS by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 8, 2023.

Kwarra said the reform aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and represents one of the most significant transformations in Nigeria’s civil registration history.

According to him, Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, yet millions of births and deaths remain 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,” he stated.

The NPC chairman disclosed that the Commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the country’s 774 local government areas and is expanding the network to about 8,000 centres to improve access to registration services.

He explained that the digital platform would provide faster registration services, 24-hour online access, digital certificate issuance where applicable, reduced paperwork and waiting time, automated data validation, enhanced database security and a foundational database to support other national data systems.

Kwarra also said the platform has been designed to integrate with Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem, promoting greater efficiency in public service delivery.

To deepen grassroots access, he said the Commission had signed a partnership compact with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), UNICEF and Bankforte Technologies Limited to decentralize and localize birth registration services.

On funding, Kwarra said the Commission had reviewed fees for specialised administrative services such as record modification, certificate reissuance, attestations and verification requests to ensure the sustainability of the platform.

“Birth registration and birth notification service remain highly subsidized, in line with the Commission’s commitment to achieving universal registration,” he assured.

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He added that the platform is being operated under a public-private partnership with Bankforte Technologies Limited, which serves as the Commission’s technical partner, providing cybersecurity, continuous system availability and technological support.

Calling for nationwide participation, Kwarra urged state governments, local councils, health institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to support efforts to ensure that every birth and death in Nigeria is promptly registered.