The National Population Commission (NPC) has raised concern over Nigeria’s inadequate civil registration system, revealing that while the country records approximately five million births annually, the vast majority of deaths go undocumented.
Federal Commissioner Clifford Zira disclosed the figures at an event in Yola, noting that birth registration coverage stands at roughly 57 percent nationwide, while death documentation remains below 20 percent. He added that even births are frequently unregistered, leaving significant gaps in the nation’s vital statistics.
Zira said the shortfall underscores the need for sustained, routine registration of births and deaths by relevant authorities. To address the challenge, the NPC has commenced digital registration of both vital events across Adamawa State under the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system.
The digital platform became operational across the state’s 21 local government areas at the beginning of the month. The initiative builds on the national launch of the E-CRVS system and the inauguration of the National Coordination Committee on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics by President Bola Tinubu.
Nationwide, the commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across all 774 local government areas to bridge the registration gap.
NPC Adamawa State Director Jummai Hassan described the digital rollout as one of the most transformative reforms in the history of civil registration in Nigeria. She expressed regret over the particularly low level of death registration in the state and emphasised that the new system would strengthen civil registration, improve statistical generation, and guide public policy and resource allocation.