NPC deploys digital tools to expand birth, death registration

The National Population Commission (NPC) has officially launched a nationwide digital registration system for births and deaths, marking a significant reform in civil registration and vital statistics. The VitalReg platform is now fully operational across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, aiming to enhance data integrity and provide crucial information for national development and health planning.

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It is my distinct honour 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 VitalReg platform under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system. Effective 1st July 2026, this transformative initiative is now operational across the thirty-six States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Federal Commissioner Abubakar Danburam announced the full commencement of the digital system, emphasizing its transformative potential. He noted that Nigeria records an estimated five million births annually, yet a substantial number of births and deaths go unregistered. Current birth registration coverage stands at approximately 57 percent, while death registration remains below 20 percent, creating significant gaps in legal identity documentation and reliable data for planning.

The NPC has established 4,011 functional registration centers nationwide and plans to expand this network to about 8,000. The digital platform is designed to streamline the registration process, making it faster and more accessible while reducing paperwork and waiting times for citizens. It offers 24-hour online access, automated data validation, and a more secure national database.

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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.

This modernization effort aims to improve citizens' access to birth and death documentation services. The VitalReg platform will also support secure interoperability with other government institutions within Nigeria's digital identity ecosystem, further strengthening the national data infrastructure.

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The platform is designed to modernise birth and death documentation and improve citizens’ access to these services nationwide.