The National Population Commission (NPC) has launched a digital platform that allows Nigerians to register births and deaths and receive certificates online without necessarily visiting physical registration centres.
NPC Chairman, Dr Aminu Yusuf, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, announcing the full rollout of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system and the VitalReg platform.
In a copy of the briefing shared on the commission’s Facebook page, Yusuf said the platform became fully operational nationwide on July 1, 2026, extending its services to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“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 (E-CRVS) system.
“Effective 1st July 2026, this transformative initiative is now operational across the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
The NPC chairman explained that the new system was designed to transform civil registration processes by providing quicker services, round-the-clock online access, digital certificate issuance where applicable, stronger data verification procedures and a more secure national database.
He noted that the platform would also help reduce paperwork, cut down waiting periods and minimise the need for Nigerians to travel to registration offices.
“This digital innovation is one of the most transformative reforms in the history of civil registration in Nigeria.
It 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 said.
Yusuf revealed that although Nigeria records about five million births annually, a significant number of births and deaths are still not captured in official records.
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“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 said.
To address the registration gaps, the commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the 774 local government areas in the country, with plans to increase the number to about 8,000 centres.
The NPC chairman also disclosed that the commission was collaborating with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission, UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited to expand access to birth registration and legal identity services at the grassroots level.
According to him, the VitalReg platform would connect with Nigeria’s digital identity system to enhance service delivery and support the Federal Government’s digital transformation efforts.
Yusuf added that certain specialised services, including amendments to records, certificate replacement, attestations and verification requests, would attract revised charges to help maintain the digital system.
He, however, assured Nigerians that birth registration and notification services would continue to receive substantial subsidies.
“Let me assure 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,” he said.
Yusuf called on parents and relevant stakeholders to ensure timely registration of births and deaths, stressing that public participation would be crucial to the success of the initiative.
“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,” he said.