The National Population Commission (NPC) has launched a nationwide digital birth and death registration system aimed at modernising Nigeria’s civil registration process, improving demographic data management, and strengthening the country’s identity management framework.
Key Highlights
National Population Commission launches the VitalReg digital birth and death registration platform nationwide.
Digital registration system became operational across all 36 states and the FCT on July 1, 2026.
Nigeria currently registers only about 57% of births, while death registration remains below 20%.
NPC plans to expand registration centres from 4,011 to about 8,000 nationwide.
Partnership signed with ALGON, NIMC, UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited to improve grassroots registration.
Birth registration and birth notification services remain highly subsidised despite a review of other administrative charges.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Chairman of the National Population Commission, Dr Aminu Yusuf, said the VitalReg platform, developed under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system, is now fully operational across Nigeria.
He described the initiative as one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s civil registration history, noting that it would enhance service delivery, improve data integrity and ensure every birth and death is securely documented through a modern digital platform.
According to Yusuf, the reform builds on the launch of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system and the inauguration of the National Coordination Committee on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics by President Bola Tinubu in November 2023.
He said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s national identity management ecosystem.
The National Population Commission chairman expressed concern over Nigeria’s low registration rates, revealing that although an estimated five million children are born annually, only about 57 per cent are officially registered, while death registration remains below 20 per cent nationwide.
He warned that poor registration weakens national planning, limits access to legal identity, and prevents many Nigerians from benefiting from essential government services.
To improve accessibility, Yusuf disclosed that the commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the country’s 774 local government areas and plans to increase the number to about 8,000 centres.
He explained that the VitalReg platform offers faster registration services, 24-hour online access, digital issuance of certificates where applicable, automated data validation, reduced paperwork and a more secure civil registration database.
“The platform is designed to modernise birth and death documentation, improve accessibility and serve as a foundational database that supports other national data systems,” Yusuf said.
He added that the platform would integrate seamlessly with other government agencies within Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem to improve data sharing and strengthen national identity management.
To deepen registration at the grassroots, the National Population Commission signed a partnership agreement with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited.
The collaboration is expected to decentralise birth registration services and expand access to legal identity documentation across rural and urban communities.
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Yusuf also announced a review of fees for specialised administrative services, including record modifications, certificate reissuance, attestations and verification requests. However, he assured Nigerians that birth registration and birth notification services would remain highly subsidised.
He disclosed that Barnksforte Technologies Limited is serving as the commission’s technical partner under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, providing technology infrastructure, cybersecurity and continuous system upgrades to ensure efficient service delivery.
The National Population Commission chairman called on state governments, local government councils, healthcare institutions, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to support the initiative by encouraging Nigerians to register every birth and death promptly.
He noted that increased participation in the digital registration system would improve national planning, strengthen identity management, enhance public service delivery and provide reliable demographic data for policy formulation and sustainable national development.
