The National Population Commission has commenced nationwide full digital registration of births and deaths through the VitalReg platform, marking a major step in Nigeria’s civil registration system.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, during a press briefing on Wednesday, where he declared that the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system became fully operational across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory from July 1, 2026.
Dr. Yusuf said the rollout follows the launch of the E-CRVS system and the inauguration of the National Coordination Committee on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 8, 2023, describing the latest phase as a significant move toward strengthening the country’s registration framework and supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said, “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.”
The NPC Chairman noted that Nigeria records an estimated five million births each year, yet many births and deaths remain outside the national register. He disclosed that birth registration coverage stands at about 57 per cent, while death registration remains below 20 per cent, a situation he said affects legal identity for many citizens and limits reliable demographic data required for national planning.
To improve coverage, the Commission has established 4,011 functional registration centres across the country’s 774 Local Government Areas, with plans to increase the number to about 8,000. The Commission is also working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the capacity of registration personnel and ensure prompt documentation of vital events through the VitalReg platform.
The platform will provide faster registration services, round-the-clock online access, digital certificate issuance where applicable, reduced paperwork, shorter waiting periods, automated data validation and a more secure national Civil Registration and Vital Statistics database that will support other national data systems.
Dr. Yusuf said the platform is designed to work with government agencies within Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem, supporting the Federal Government’s digital agenda and wider identity management efforts.
He disclosed that the Commission has signed a partnership compact with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission, UNICEF and Barnksforte Technologies Limited to decentralise birth registration and legal identity services at the community level, making registration more accessible while improving data quality and public participation.
As part of the transition, he explained that some specialised administrative services, including record modifications, certificate reissuance, attestations and verification requests, will attract reviewed service fees to support the sustainability of the digital infrastructure.
He assured Nigerians that, “Birth registration and birth notification services remain highly subsidized, in line with the Commission’s commitment to achieving universal registration.”
The Commission also stated that the VitalReg platform is being operated through a Public-Private Partnership with Barnksforte Technologies Limited to provide continuous system availability, cybersecurity protection and ongoing technological improvements.
Calling for nationwide participation, Dr. Yusuf urged stakeholders and citizens to ensure that every birth and death is registered promptly.
He also appreciated state governments, local government councils, development partners, healthcare facilities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media for supporting the advancement of civil registration in Nigeria.
He added, “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.”